When floodwaters near Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona, rose rapidly on Sunday, Alexander Dale, his wife, and about nine guests climbed onto their roof and waited roughly three hours for a helicopter. Rescuers initially said they lacked a K-9 harness for the family’s dog, so the couple strapped three of their own harnesses together, fitted them on the dog, and Dale was lifted out holding the animal.
Other residents evacuated with little notice. Schoolteacher Cindy Wilmer left with the shirt on her back, the keys to her school, and her cat. Fernando Leon and other Oak Creek residents also cleared out as the water came up. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported, and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said state crews were assisting local responders.
The story is a reminder for Gulf Coast communities that flash floods move faster than most people expect, and that emergency plans should include pets. Simple steps like keeping a leash, carrier, and spare harnesses in a go-bag can make a difference when minutes count. What’s in your pet emergency kit right now?
