Sedona Helicopter Rescue Saves Ten People

Rapidly rising floodwaters in Sedona, Arizona, forced immediate evacuations from homes near Oak Creek on Sunday. The surge trapped residents in their properties, prompting officials to order people in the creek bed area to leave without delay.

Alexander Dale and his wife found their home and several managed vacation rentals isolated by the water. They joined approximately nine guests on the roof of the residence. The group waited for roughly three hours before a helicopter arrived to lift them to safety. During the wait, the pilot questioned whether the family’s dog could be secured for the flight because a standard K-9 harness was not available on the aircraft.

Dale reported that the pilot suggested they might have to leave the animal behind. The couple decided to keep the dog. They retrieved three harnesses from inside the home and strapped them together to secure the animal. Dale sat in his own harness, holding the dog tightly while the winch line lifted them from the roof.

The rescue was part of a wider effort across multiple Arizona communities. Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher living near Red Rock Crossing, evacuated with minimal belongings. She left with only the clothes on her back, her car keys, and her cat. Wilmer described the water as roaring down the street and expressed concern about the condition of her house after the storm passed.

Fernando Leon also evacuated his home near Oak Creek. He opened his front door to find the river outside and immediately left. Leon described the sudden shift from daily life to emergency departure as a sad feeling, fearing his home might be a total loss.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs stated that state air rescue crews assisted with the rooftop evacuations. State transportation teams worked to clear debris from the area. By Sunday afternoon, the heavy rains had largely subsided in the Sedona region. Authorities reported no immediate injuries or deaths from the flooding.