Emergency crews in northeast Arizona surveyed widespread damage Thursday after a suspected tornado ripped through the rural mountain community of Heber-Overgaard, damaging dozens of structures and knocking out electricity across the region, local officials reported.
Emergency dispatchers received 18 calls to 911 within the first half-hour after the severe weather hit around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Heber-Overgaard Fire District Chief Jason Payne said, according to Yahoo News. Callers reported downed electrical lines, dislodged propane tanks and fears that residents were trapped inside their residences.
First responders transported one person to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Payne said the individual was riding a bicycle when they got too close to the suspected twister. No fatalities were reported.
Community Digs Out From Significant Damage
Preliminary estimates indicated between 20 and 30 structures sustained damage, most of them homes, Payne said, as reported by Yahoo News. Many residents survived unharmed by sheltering in interior bathrooms and closets during the storm.
The Navopache Electric Cooperative reported that the storm caused severe destruction to power lines and utility poles throughout the area.
“NEC crews continue assessing damage and making repairs to restore power safely,” the nonprofit electrical cooperative said.
Utility officials did not provide an estimated timeline for when service would be completely restored. In response to the outages and displaced families, the American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Capps Middle School near Buckskin Canyon Road and Crandell, Payne said.
Local law enforcement urged drivers to avoid several major transit corridors. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office warned motorists to steer clear of State Route 260 between Mogollon and the Overgaard Airpark, as well as areas extending north of State Route 377 toward Tonto. Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse also urged the public to keep 911 lines clear for local full-time residents.
State Assistance and Continuing Weather Threats
State Rep. Walt Blackman urged Gov. Katie Hobbs to issue an emergency declaration for the hardest-hit pockets of Navajo County to expedite disaster relief, Yahoo News reported. Hobbs later announced on X that state agencies were actively coordinating with Navajo County Emergency Management.
“We stand ready to deploy resources to assess damage, and I’ve directed DEMA, DPS and ADOT to work hand-in-hand with county officials on recovery efforts,” Hobbs said.
The National Weather Service had issued tornado warnings for the area shortly before the impact Wednesday evening after tracking a rotating thunderstorm moving northeast at 30 mph from near Forest Lakes. Weather service personnel were en route Thursday to conduct ground surveys and officially determine whether a tornado touched down.
The threat of severe weather lingered across the Southwest on Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center placed 13 counties across northern and eastern Arizona and western New Mexico under Tornado Watch 693, warning that approaching atmospheric disturbances could generate isolated tornadoes, wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail measuring up to two inches in diameter, Traveling Lifestyle reported.
The Arizona counties included in the watch were Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee and Navajo. In New Mexico, the watch applied to Catron, Cibola, Grant, Hidalgo, McKinley and San Juan counties.
Payne emphasized that local emergency personnel remained focused on clearing hazards and helping affected homeowners before additional weather systems moved in. Official tornado survey findings from the National Weather Service remain pending.
