Couple refuses to leave dog behind during helicopter rescue amid dangerous flooding

SEDONA, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — Rapidly rising floodwaters triggered water rescues and forced residents from their homes in several Arizona communities Sunday.

That included Sedona, where officials ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately as floodwaters trapped multiple people in their homes.

Alexander Dale and his wife were trapped by rising floodwaters. Their home and several Airbnbs they manage sit on a property next to the creek bed.

“We didn’t know what to do. We couldn’t go anywhere,” Dale said.

Dale, his wife and about nine of their guests climbed onto the roof of the home. They waited about three hours for a helicopter to lift them to safety.

“There was a helicopter and it had this huge rope on it, this huge line,” he said.

According to Dale, there was at first a question about whether the family’s dog could be lifted out.

“He told me, ‘Well, we don’t have a harness for a K-9, so I don’t know if we can take him.’ So I’m like, ‘What do we do?’” Dale said.

The couple did not leave the dog behind. They used harnesses they had at home.

“We put like three of them on him and strapped it all together,” Dale said.

Dale and his dog were lifted out together.

“I was sitting in this harness basically holding my dog, praying he doesn’t go anywhere,” Dale said.

Dale and his wife were not the only people forced out.

Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher, lives at Red Rock Crossing. She also evacuated with very little.

“The water was just roaring down the street,” Wilmer said. “I just left with the shirt on my back and the keys to the school and my cat ... I’m worried about my house.”

Fernando Leon was also evacuated. He feared his Oak Creek home might be a total loss.

“I opened the door and I saw the river, and I said, ‘Whoa, I need to get out of here,’” Leon said. “From one day to the next you’re at your place and then you have to evacuate and leave all your things behind. It’s just a very sad feeling.”

By Sunday afternoon, the drenching rains had largely subsided in the Sedona area.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said state air rescue crews were also assisting with rooftop evacuations and state transportation crews were helping clear debris.

No injuries or deaths were immediately reported