A sudden flood in the Navajo Nation caused road destruction, forced evacuations, and the loss of three lives. This incident occurred following increased seasonal rainfall in the Four Corners region.
Tragic Incident in the Navajo Family
A Navajo family, while returning from shopping for their daughter's 8th birthday, got stuck in mud holes with their vehicle. Kalisi Begay decided to walk home while her mother and 7-year-old daughter waited for help. The water rose rapidly, and ultimately, the grandmother and granddaughter, along with their friend who had been called for assistance, were caught in the floodwaters.
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Elsie Begay, her granddaughter Lucy Allison Mike, and Begay's friend Dora Franklin lost their lives on Tuesday near Newcomb, New Mexico.
State of Emergency in the Navajo Nation
The President of the Navajo Nation, Buu Nygren, declared a state of emergency on Friday as some communities remained isolated due to standing water and road damage. Navajo police reported that three families in Shiprock, New Mexico, were evacuated on Friday night due to rising water levels and flooding.
Nygren advised the public to use alternative routes, care for their elders and relatives, and heed the guidance of emergency personnel.
In the small community of Mexican Springs, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Newcomb, flooding made many dirt and gravel roads impassable, trapping some families.
Darnell Etsitty, a local government maintenance worker, said, "Many roads have been destroyed, and drainage pipes have been washed away. Large holes have formed in the roads." Etsitty added that the Mexican Springs community center has been turned into a temporary shelter, with volunteers delivering food, water, and supplies to trapped households using ATVs.
Elsie Begay worked as a commercial technician at the Senoti Day School, where Mike was a third-grade student. Franklin also worked as a bus driver at another nearby school.
Begay and Franklin loved working with children, and Begay always decorated the front office of the school for every holiday, while Franklin would give kids candy as they boarded the bus. Mike had recently been crowned "Miss Senoti School" on September 4 and was very excited about her 8th birthday celebration, which was set for Tuesday.
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Source: abcnews.com
