Oak Creek floods Page Springs
The river rose to 21 feet over the weekend, leaving mud, debris, and displaced families in Yavapai County.
By Nadia Singh ·
Oak Creek surged to 21 feet over the weekend, overwhelming the Page Springs area in Yavapai County, Arizona. The historic rise in water levels left parts of the community covered in mud and debris as of Monday. Residents are still assessing the damage to their homes and businesses while cleanup efforts begin.
The flood gauge recorded a peak of 21 feet, a level locals say exceeds previous records in the region. Eric Glomski, founder of Page Springs Vineyards and Cellars, described the event as the highest he has seen since moving to Arizona. The water carried large objects down the river, including trees, stumps, refrigerators, and kayaks, according to Dean Pefanis, president of the Verde Valley Wine Trail.
Glomski's property shows the physical toll of the surge. A Jeep from a nearby trailer park was washed onto his land. He noted that a single-wide trailer had pivoted nearly 100 degrees and wedged against the riverbank, while another trailer sat with a car lodged in a tree above it. Although the vines survived, Glomski reported that a 50-by-20 stage equipped with full lighting and electrical systems was destroyed.
Families were forced to evacuate, leaving their homes flooded and filled with mud. The Verde Valley Humane Society responded to a call from a displaced family seeking help for their animals. Charlotte Peterson, the society's executive director, stated that the group took in two goats and two sheep. Peterson acknowledged that the facility is not designed for livestock but said the organization would accommodate the animals if needed.
Damage estimates remain preliminary. Glomski calculated personal losses at between $75,000 and $100,000, describing his damage as minimal. He estimated that the community total could reach millions of dollars. Many residents believe the burn scar from the Pocket Fire contributed to the severity of the flooding.
Local businesses, including vineyards, remain open and welcoming visitors during what Glomski identified as a peak tourist season. The full extent of the flood damage is still being evaluated by residents and officials.
