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Difference between a weather warning, watch after deadly flash flood up north

Posted at 7:56 PM, Jul 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-19 13:01:48-04

Questions still surround the flash flood deaths of a Phoenix family celebrating a birthday at a popular swimming hole near Wagon Wheel Campground just north of Payson.    

Gila County sheriff officials say the area has spotty to no cell service, so the family likely didn't get the early warning alert.

"Flooding is the second highest number of fatalities due to weather related activity, heat is the first," said Ken Waters with the National Weather Service, which is the agency that issues the alerts.

RELATED: Chandler man survives Payson flash flood that claimed 9, 1 still missing

Waters says sending the alert via smart phones is the easiest and most accessible way for phone users to receive them.

A dust storm, weather or flood watch means there is a chance of such a weather event occurring. But a weather warning is much more serious.

"Those are the life threatening ones, those are the ones we ask people to take action and to really, really be alert," said Waters.

So what happens when you're in remote areas with little to no cell service?

Gila County Sheriff's Office public information officer Sgt. David Hornung says right now there are no alternatives. The area is too vast for deputies and rangers to alert campers, swimmers and hikers in person.

"We can't get there in time, in this incident even if we got the word right away that there was a flash flood, there was no way we could've got a deputy there to warn those people before the flash flood hit," explains Sgt. Hornung.

Sheriff officials say while there are flood warning signs on roadways, they have not seen any near swimming holes.

"Unfortunately it takes a tragedy like thisto bring things to the forefront, we can't put some kind of warning system for the Tonto National Forest but I would venture to say the Tonto National Forest is going to entertain more signage in these flood prone areas to warn people of that possibility," said Sgt. Hornung.

Deputies suggest if you're in a remote area to look upstream, even if it's not raining near you just to be aware of what could be coming toward you.

"In some cases, you may have only have seconds to find shelter," said Waters.