When the Desert Floods

Desert ground holds little rain,

So when it storms, things go insane.

Who knew water could be so wild?

When it pours, it has to drain.

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Water, water everywhere.

Not much done to really prepare.

Trees uprooted, roadways trashed.

When the desert floods, beware.

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For some time, let rain be done.

Please return our blessed sun.

Give a chance to make repairs,

To relax and have some fun.

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Muddy water, go away.

Give us light, and no more gray.

No more flooding, no more rain.

We all want a brighter day.

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I live in Cottonwood, AZ. The Verde River, normally a small river, meanders through our Verde Valley. On November 1, 2026, it rained nearly all day, unprecedented for this area.

The ground in Cottonwood is not soil. It is not prepared to soak up moisture. Our river swelled. Some homes flooded. Some roads were impassible. Some people were evacuated. Some were stranded, sometimes because they didn't heed warnings.

It was a scary day. Today, November 2, our schools started with a two-hour delay and ended up canceling altogether.

It wasn't just my town either. Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott, and many other communities have had major flooding.

Keep Arizona in your thoughts and/or prayers.