Miami and Globe hit by destructive flash flooding

GILA COUNTY, Ariz. - Rain quickly turned to flash flooding in the Miami and Globe areas on Thursday and Friday, causing significant damage to homes and businesses.

What they're saying:

Residents said water rose to car bumpers, and thick mud covered West Sullivan Street on Sept. 25. The rainfall continued into Friday as well.

Residents reported that the severe weather displaced several people and businesses. In one case, a building's roof was blown off. U.S. 60 was completely shut down in both directions due to the water.

People in the area said they've seen flooding before in Miami, but this was likely the worst in at least four years.

The owner of the Wild Horses Saloon, Bill Clemmens, said he got a call saying his entire wall had been blown off on Thursday night.

"It was hard to believe," Clemmens said. "But then I looked, and I saw what had happened, that it had just come loose from the concrete, and it fell over."

Crews have been out all Friday trying to get things back to normal.

The rain poured into a valley nestled between two mountain ranges and within minutes, the wash was filled with rushing water. 

The rain and flooding brought everything in its path, from dirt, rocks, tires and trash. Tractors have been going street by street, moving mud out of the road to get them back open.

Neighbors, like Richard Huerta, described just how quickly things changed.

"It came out of nowhere. We got back to our home just in time, and then the heavens opened up, and it just came," Huerta said. "It looked like a hurricane had hit Miami and the water just came down. The visibility was zero."

Miami resident Dave Lindblad said, "It was instantaneous, like boom. Like it was literally the strike of thunder. And the street was fully flooded."

What's next:

Residents said cleanup will take at least a few days, as some roads remain closed. They said neighbors are helping each other with the recovery efforts.

Map of the area that's affected by rain