Parts of Arizona Under Emergency Declaration After Microburst

A powerful microburst that left a trail of destruction in its path has triggered a state of emergency declaration in Arizona. Here are the details of this rare weather occurrence and how the state is responding.

State of Emergency Declared in Parts of Arizona

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an emergency declaration on Friday, freeing up resources for Maricopa County and neighboring Gila County. The declaration came after a microburst earlier in the week generated winds of up to 90 mph across the Phoenix metro area. Maricopa County is home to Phoenix and the hard-hit suburb of Tempe. The storm left miles of damage across the Valley of the Sun when it fired up on Monday afternoon.

State officials confirmed that hundreds of homes and businesses sustained damage from the supercell. Tempe Mayor Corey Woods addressed the media on Friday, confirming that several mobile homes were ripped off their foundations by the power of the winds. Woods detailed that some rooftops were sent flying as far as 400 feet. Several 100-year-old trees were also downed by the potency of the supercell. The mayor expressed gratitude that the flying debris did not kill anyone.

The emergency declaration for Maricopa and Gila counties will release $200,000 in immediate funding. The declaration will also mobilize state resources to help in the cleanup and recovery efforts. Hobbs noted that the state is also planning to apply for federal help.