City of Globe launches new tools to improve flood recovery communications

As the Copper Corridor continues recovering from last year's historic flooding, the City of Globe is expanding its communication efforts to help residents navigate the many agencies, projects and partners involved in the recovery process.

In addition to the many ways in which the city currently communicates with residents, including recorded council meetings, its website, social media, app notifications and monthly “Coffee With the Mayor” events, Globe continues to expand its efforts to make information more accessible and easier to navigate. 

Recognizing that flood recovery involves multiple agencies and revolving timelines, the city recently established a public information office and launched new communication tools, including a dedicated “Flood Recovery Dashboard” and a “Question’s We’re Hearing” series on its website, as well as a dedicated email address where residents can email questions and concerns directly to the information team. These resources are designed to help residents understand where recovery projects stand, what comes next, and where to find the latest information. 

“We know people have questions, and they deserve honest answers,” says Melissa Steele, the city’s economic development manager. “Sometimes we have those answers immediately, and sometimes we don’t because recovery involves many different agencies and moving parts. The City of Globe’s commitment moving forward is to share what we know, be transparent about what we don’t know yet, and continue providing updates as new information becomes available. At the same time, there is also a responsibility to respect the privacy of individual property owners and other confidential matters. ... Even so, the goal is to be as open as possible while honoring those responsibilities.”

Because flood recovery involves many partners, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Arizona’s Department of Emergency Management and Military Affairs, Gila County, the Town of Miami and other agencies, information is often shared by multiple organizations. While the City of Globe can provide updates on its own projects and responsibilities, it can also help to connect residents with appropriate resources and information from partner agencies when possible. 

“Each entity has different responsibilities, funding sources, regulations and timelines,” says Councilman Jesse Leetham. “While these agencies are all working toward the same goal, they don’t all operate on the same schedule or have the same authority. A project might require environmental review, engineering approval, grant authorization or federal funding before work can even begin. That can make communication challenging because the city doesn’t always have immediate answers when we’re waiting on decisions from outside agencies.”

The City of Globe has limited jurisdiction over most of the area affected by the floods. Much of the surrounding land is owned by the federal government or is in the hands of private owners. Since Globe only owns about 15% of the land along Pinal Creek, mitigation efforts could not even begin until the city received permission from private landowners to access property for sediment removal.

Additionally, Gila County is doing its own projects on properties within its jurisdiction, including the Six Shooter Canyon area and Russell Gulch. Miami is also involved in its own work to the west of Globe, which can add to the confusion.

Sediment removal is one example of progress. More than 80% of the estimated 50,000 cubic feet of sediment has been removed, with sediment removal expected to be completed by the end of July.

To address common questions from residents, the city recently launched the Questions We’re Hearing series and Flood Recovery Dashboard on its website, providing focused updates on topics residents ask about most frequently.

“As flood recovery continues, we know many residents still have questions about the recovery process, current projects, what comes next and how this affects them,” says Steele. “To provide clearer, more focused information on the issues that matter most to our community, we've launched a new series that will answer some of the questions we've received most often and explain what to expect moving forward.”

Questions from residents have focused on the temporary debris management site, recovery assistance, enforcement, flood preparedness and other topics related to the ongoing recovery. Still, other citizens want to know what the city is doing to prepare for flood risks and future safety.

“We delayed handing out citations and waived water bills for six months, because we understand what people are going through,” says Mayor Al Gameros. “Disaster recovery isn’t a fixed process. Every community learns as it moves through it, and Globe is no different. We’ve worked to adapt, improve and make thoughtful decisions as new challenges and opportunities have emerged. Our commitment is to keep learning, keep listening and keep moving our community forward.”

Recovery efforts are guided by an interwoven combination of program requirements, regulations, and timelines. For example, the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program requires work to be completed within a limited timeframe to remain eligible for reimbursement, meaning the City of Globe must file for reimbursement as the work is being completed. To date, the city has not yet received any funding.

Despite these challenges, the city continues to move critical recovery projects forward while maintaining essential municipal services and preparing for future hazards while responsibly managing public resources. 

“This flood connected all of us in ways never expected,” Steele says. “Our community, agencies and partners all have different responsibilities, and as we move forward, we all need to work together. No single organization can do it alone, and collaboration will be one of the most important parts of rebuilding.”

As for preparations for future catastrophic events, the City of Globe has entered into a nascent intergovernmental agreement with Gila County and the Town of Miami for the development of a long-term regional mitigation plan for the region.

With the help of Freeport McMoRan, the agreement is focused on developing a long-term comprehensive flood mitigation plan and preparing competitive grant applications to address ongoing flood mitigation needs, as well as the continuing impacts of the 2021 Telegraph Fire burn scar, which has significantly increased local flood risks.

The agreement must be reviewed and approved by attorneys and gain final approval from the Gila County Board of Supervisors. Once that process is complete, the result will provide a long-term agreement that will bind the three jurisdictions together for a long time to come.

“As we move through another monsoon season, we’re continuing to monitor conditions, work closely with our emergency management partners and share information as quickly and accurately as possible,” Leetham says. “At the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing, a safer community and better communication. I believe we’re making meaningful improvements, and while there is always more work to do, we’re committed to learning from this experience and continuing to strengthen how we serve our residents.”

For more information, visit the Flood Information Page at www.globeaz.gov, or email pio@globeaz.gov. The city’s Flood Recovery Dashboard can also be found on its website and provides a snapshot of major recovery initiatives currently underway, the status of each project, next steps and when residents can expect additional updates.