Globe is still reeling from floods. Fire crews worried about propane tanks that washed away

The community of Globe in eastern Arizona is reeling from catastrophic floods. At least three people have died and a state of emergency has been declared for Gila County. Another big concern is leaking propane tanks.

At a press conference on Monday, Globe’s Fire Chief Gary Robinson says a significant number of propane tanks are still out there, and many appear to have been washed away from a nearby propane company. The tanks were determined to be older and generally empty.

“The issue that you have there is there are vapors that remain in those tanks. It was very clear from the outset that those propane tanks were obviously off-gassing as they were moving through the community. We had a significant odor of propane.”

And because propane is heavier than air, Robinson says mitigating propane is more challenging. The goal now is to get any remaining tanks out of the waterways and staged elsewhere.

Globe Mayor Al Gameros was also at the press conference. He says what happened could not have been prevented.

“We always prepare for things and we and even more so since a Telegraph fire because we know the burn scar, but there's nothing that I believe that anything could have been done that would have stopped this devastating flood. It's historic.”

Gameros says the water rose 20 feet in some parts. Government agencies and volunteers are continuing the cleanup process.