Inclement weather on the Navajo Nation comes with the territory – it rains, it snows, it floods – and residents have learned to prepare for it and hunker down when it happens. But they really got socked this time and it’s not over yet by any means.
“This series of winter storm systems was far from commonplace,” said George Howard of the National Weather Service, the official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reporting station in Flagstaff. “The five day snowfall from Jan. 18 – 23 was over 4-and-a-half feet (54.2 inches) scoring a near record ranking of No. 2 on the all-time excessive snowstorm charts that we’ve kept since 1898. With a powerful cold front continually dropping snow and rainfall, snow levels dropped to unusually low elevations and strong winds caused considerable blowing and drifting snow. Precipitation totals of over 12 inches ranked the third highest of all time.”
President Barack Obama quickly declared that an emergency existed in the state of Arizona and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local efforts. The Navajo and Hopi nations also declared a state of emergency and response actions got underway. “We got hit very hard and while things are moving slowly because of the conditions, we’re working constantly to respond to distress calls and impassable roads,” said tribal spokesperson Selena Manychildren of the Navajo Emergency Operations Center.
“Priorities start with people living in remote areas who are completely snowed in, the elderly, children, those with medical needs, and livestock that are stranded. There are 110 chapters on the reservation and we’re doing the best we can to respond to those in greatest need. BIA, tribal, county and state responders are working together to be most effective and National Guard helicopters are dropping supplies to people in most need in remote areas.”
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. took an aerial assessment of nature’s fury via helicopter over hard-hit communities in the Chuska Mountain and Defiance Plateau and regional incident command and coordination centers were set up in Window Rock, Chinle, Dilkon, Tuba City and Kayenta so responders could better serve the needs of area communities. Other Incident Command Posts have been set up in regions of Shiprock and Crownpoint, N.M.
Supplies of wood, coal, hay, food and water have been inventoried, packaged, and are on their way to smaller, remote sites. “While we’re familiar with adverse environmental conditions of living here, you can only prepare for so many days and stockpile only so much inventory before basic supplies run out,” said Operation 2010 Snowfall spokesperson Lorie Lee. “Some areas got only a little snowfall while other spots have up to eight feet of snow on the ground, so supplies are being assigned to high impact areas in the higher elevations. A fleet of units ranging from Snow Cats to 4×4’s and deuce and a half trucks are transporting the supplies to those who are stranded.”
Not only is snowfall and snowdrifting a problem, “late in the day the snow begins to melt, turning into slush, and we’ve got a huge headache. Snow removal crews are working 10 to 12 hour shifts to clear roadways and it’s a giant task for heavy equipment like bulldozers and end loaders because while the machinery is effective, it moves as slowly as a turtle,” Manychildren said. Despite follow-on snowfall of several inches, main roadways have been cleared and progress is being made on secondary roadways.
The tribal Department of Agriculture has put into place a response plan to address livestock concerns and Navajo Agricultural Product Industries has supplied bailed hay and feed to meet emergency needs. Agriculture Department staff members have established areas to secure livestock that has been relocated.
Emergency Operations Center personnel are working diligently and professionally to respond to current conditions and keeping an eye on what’s next. “When this storm finally moves on, it will leave us with a mud and flood problem,” Manychildren said. “We live in a drought area and need all the moisture we can get, but normally dry creek beds are already beginning to flow and low-lying areas are going to get hit by stream flooding. Then, after that, in the February to March timeframe, the winds will start up. We always urge people to prepare for these conditions as much as they can, but this is nature and we just have to learn how to live with it.”
For further information about the Navajo Nation Operation 2010 Snowfall, visit the Web site, or call the Emergency Operations Center in Window Rock at (928) 871-6064.
