Personal accounts: Stories from the storm

Eileen Harbison was caught in flooding coming home from Six Shooter Canyon at 6:40pm Friday night. A truck behind her videoed her harrowing experience when she realized how deep the water had gotten. She was barely able to back up into a driveway that led to higher ground.
Eileen Harbison
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These are glimpses of what people saw and experienced as the floodwater ripped through our communities and what they have experienced since. Please feel free to share your observations and experiences using our "Submit your news" form.

• Eileen Harbison had just made a stop on Surrmount Street in Globe when she got the stunning image of the line of storm clouds dumping rain on the Pinals.  The time was 5:45 and she sent the photo to her son in Claypool, telling him she was headed to Sarah's in Ice House Canyon to feed her animals and would let him know when she got back. 

The home is at the end of the Canyon, just before you drive onto forest land, so she didn't head home from Sarah's until 6:30. By then, water had begun to lap over the roadway, but she felt she could drive through it until she got to the Brantley Trailer Court and 4 Star Mobile Home Park. 

Propane gas was spewing into the air and giving her a headache,  she said, and her main goal was to get away from the gas fumes.  That's when she "came over the hill and saw massive water" in front of her.

At that point, she realized she could be in trouble as water was over her wheel wells. She tried backing up the car and could tell the water was beginning to move her car side to side. 

A truck was behind her. The driver was watching and taking a video, hoping she would make it out of harm's way, but was unable to do much except watch. 

Harbison was able to back her car into a nearby driveway that led up the hill to Sumpters, where she was put up for three hours. 

She called her son to let her know she hadn't made it home and was stuck waiting it out. 

"My son made it to the car wash, then Highway 60, turned around, went and got a county truck, met up with his boss and a grader, and they cleared Six Shooter first and then did Ice House."

He made sure the road was passable, came and hugged me, and I got in my car and drove home to my place on Hazen Road.

Stories and videos from our friends and neighbors . . .

Thanks to Michael Salcido for this video of the flood damage at LaCasita. We are heartbroken.

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Update:  "The alpacas and the goat were found deceased. We will be rebuilding, but the zoo will be closed to the public for a bit while we rebuild the pens and arena."

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