Cities and state agencies continue to prepare for the incoming storm expected to bring heavy rain. The Arizona Department of Transportation has been working for the past couple of days to make sure storm drains work effectively this time.
ADOT officials said there are half a dozen troubleshooting teams working throughout the Valley. Maintenance crews have been out checking the more than 50 pump stations along the Phoenix freeway system. These are stations that remove water away from highways and into storm channels and basis. ADOT spokesperson Doug Nintzel said their biggest concern for this storm is getting heavy rain in a short period of time, which can lead to flooding in low-lying areas.
“Sometimes it can be surprising how many areas we do have in the state that have the slopes or hillsides right next to the highway," Nintzel said. "And drivers need to be especially cautious when storms like this are moving through, and even in the aftermath the effects of the runoffs they can show up in the days after the rain has passed through.”
Valley cities in the meantime have sand and sandbags available for its residents.
Mesa Fire Department Locations For Sand And Sandbags:
Station 201: 360 E. 1st Street
Station 202: 830 S. Stapley Drive
Station 204: 1426 S. Extension Road
Station 205: 730 S. Greenfield Road
Station 206: 815 N. Lindsay Road
Station 207: 2505 S. Dobson Road
Station 208: (Falcon Field) 4530 E. McKellips Road
Station 209: 7035 E. Southern Avenue
Station 210: 1502 S. 24th Street
Station 211: 2130 N. Horne
Station 212: 2430 S. Ellsworth
Station 213: 7816 E. University Drive
Station 214: 5950 E. Virginia Street
Station 215: (Williams Gateway Airport) 6353 S. Downwind
Station 216: 7966 E. McDowell Road
Station 217: 10434 E. Baseline Road
Station 218: 845 N. Alma School Road
Station 219: 3361 S. Signal Butte Road
Station 220: 5763 E. Main Street
Glendale:
Sand and sandbags are available to the public for free at the following locations, but citizens must bring their own shovels.
Bonsall Park North, Northeast corner of 59th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, next to the Hockey Rink
City of Glendale Community Center North: 14061 N. 59th Ave.
GFD Support Services: 7501 N.55th Ave.
Chandler:
10 Sandbags per household will be available at the Chandler Fire Health & Medical Headquarters, 151 E. Boston Street. Residents are encouraged to bring shovels to help speed the process.
Tempe:
The City of Tempe has sand and bags available at two locations.
Tempe Field Operations, 55 S. Priest Drive
Benedict Sports Complex, 490 W. Guadalupe Road
Phoenix:
ONLY SAND is available - bring your own medium-sized, garbage bags (double bagged) and shovels.
Station 11 - 2727 E. Roosevelt St.
Station 16 - 1414 E. Mohave St.
Station 26 - 3301 W. Rose Lane
Station 31 - 5730 E. Thunderbird Road
Station 36 - 21602 N. Ninth Ave.
Station 39 - 2276 W. Southern Ave.
Station 40 - 3838 N. 83rd Ave.
Station 43 - 4110 E. Chandler Blvd.
Station 48 - 5230 W. Happy Valley Road
Station 49 - 3750 E. Dynamite Blvd.
Station 52 - 21650 N. Tatum Blvd.
Station 57 -1708 W. Dobbins Road.
Scottsdale:
Sandbags are available for Scottsdale residents on a first-come, first-served basis at two locations.
North Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador. There is a limit of 10 bags per household. Call 480-312-3111 during business hours to ensure sandbags are available.
District 1 Police Headquarters, southeast corner of Miller and McKellips roads. Bags are not pre-filled. Residents need to fill their own bags.
