Three dead after flash flooding strikes Globe, Gila County

GLOBE, AZ — Three people have died following severe flash flooding in Globe Friday night, according to Globe officials.

During a news conference on Monday, officials announced two people died within the city limits of Globe and a third person died within Gila County's area.

Globe officials identified the two victims as Heather Poarch-Johnson and David Acevedo.

Watch Monday afternoon's news conference in the player below:

ABC15 received the following statement from Johnson's family:

Heather Poarch-Johnson was a mother, grandmother and much more, who will be deeply missed by countless friends and family. She would have turned 52 on October 5th, a milestone that now serves as a reminder of the love and strength she shared throughout her life. She leaves behind her son, they had a bond that knew no bounds, a proud self-proclaimed momma’s boy, a daughter who will never be the same, her grandchildren, sister, nieces, and mother, and many friends. Her love, laughter, and unwavering care leave a lasting legacy that will continue to live on through her loved ones. We love you always and endlessly.

Johnson Family

The family has a GoFundMe set up for her funeral expenses.

Gila County has not officially identified the third victim. However, ABC15 spoke with family members who identified her as 67-year-old Teresa "Terri" Robles Saenz.

Family says Terri stopped responding to calls and messages on Friday. They found her purse at her home, and that led them to report her as missing. Later that night, the family says someone said they might have seen her car get swept away.

They found her car on Saturday and after a day of searching, her body was found on Sunday.

“She was my rock, any chance I got I always hugged her and, you know, I told her how much she meant to me…” said Terri's grandson, Jose Caballero.

Her daughter, Heather Gutierrez, added, "She loved all of her kids, her grandkids and her great-grandkids. She was nuts over her great-grandkids, very proud of them.”

ABC15 is also hearing from friends of David Acevedo, who says he was an Army veteran and lived his life to the fullest.

Authorities were looking for a fourth person who was believed to be missing, but he has been located alive and was found to have not been in danger.

The flooding, which began late Friday, caused widespread damage and shut down portions of US 60 overnight and into Saturday morning. Water swept through the downtown area, submerging streets and sending vehicles and propane tanks floating through the city.

Videos sent to ABC15 show fast-moving water rushing down Broad Street and other areas.

Between 100 and 150 personnel from agencies across the state are actively involved in search and rescue operations. Crews from Maricopa County, Pima County, and Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, along with the Arizona State Land Department, are on the ground assisting with recovery and response.

In nearby Claypool, streets also flooded as rain pushed through the area. Miami High School sustained water damage across multiple buildings on Thursday and Friday. On Monday, Sept. 29, the Miami Unified School District sent a letter home to families stating that school will not be in session for the week while they assess damage. School scheduling updates will be provided at a later date.

A State of Emergency was declared on Saturday, unlocking funding and additional resources for recovery.

“I’m heartbroken by the devastation in Gila County; my thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and the residents whose lives have been impacted,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “This declaration is a commitment to the people of Gila County that Arizona will deliver every resource available to help. We will continue to work around the clock to ensure communities throughout Gila County that have been impacted by devastating flooding have the support they need to protect life and property.”

Watch as Governor Hobbs and other state leaders provide an update in the player below:

When asked about preparations for the storm, city and county officials said they did what they could.

"We always prepare for things and even more so since the Telegraph Fire," said Globe mayor Al Gameros. "We know the burn scar, but there's nothing that I believe that anything could've been done that would've stopped this devastating flood. It's historic."

Residents are being urged to avoid downtown Globe, which remains littered with debris, flood damage, and possibly hazardous materials, including displaced propane tanks.

A Red Cross shelter was opened to assist displaced residents at Lee Kornegay Intermediate School.

While community members of Globe are hoping to go out and help with cleanup and search efforts, the city is urging people to let emergency response crews take over.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) crews are on the ground in Gila County this week, assessing flood damage in Globe and Miami after recent storms.

A majority of FEMA employees are considered essential and will continue to work during a government shutdown. Their work in Arizona has not been interrupted, Congressman Eli Crane’s office confirmed

“FEMA disaster assistance personnel are not affected during government shutdowns,” a spokesperson for Congressman Crane said.

That means damage assessments and emergency response operations continue, though the workers are not receiving pay while the shutdown remains in effect.

Globe’s Mayor Al Gameros also said that state-level resources and assistance are not facing any disruptions.

Read more about the State of Emergency declaration from City of Globe Mayor Al Gameros:

"Globe City Council had a special meeting this afternoon at noon to approve and sign the City of Globe Emergency Proclamation. Simultaneously the county signed their emergency proclamation. The Governor Hobbs has now also signed an Emergency declaration for the Globe Miami area to authorize funding.

We have been a direct contact with Governor Hobbs, Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Ruben Gallego, Congressman Andy Biggs and Congressman Eli Crane, who will also be involved with working with their teams to expedite funding to our city.

We want to assure the business community and all our residents that our Council is doing everything possible to expedite funding and identify funding opportunities for the business community to begin the assessment process of their buildings so we can move forward with rebuilding.

We continue to receive resources from all over the state to assist us during this emergency event. A Type 3 Incident Command Team is in transition to take over the incident.

All search and rescue operations were temporarily halted this afternoon due to the rain and the safety of our first responders.

Work continues downtown to stabilize the area so that we are able to allow the owners of the businesses to enter the downtown area.

As soon as the Type Three Incident Management takes over complete control of the incident, information will be shared about a location to accept donations of supplies. We will continue to update you as things evolve."

The O'Rourke Media Group, which Poarch-Johnson worked for, released the following statement on her death:

"It is with profound sadness that the Arizona Silver Belt, Copper Country News, and O’Rourke Media Group mourns the tragic passing of our valued team member, Heather Poarch Johnson, who passed on Friday, September 26, 2025 due to the devastating flooding in Globe-Miami. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

Heather was a beloved member of our team for 5 years who truly cherished her community. She went to great efforts to make sure the Copper Country Newspapers were distributed throughout our towns in a prompt manner for her fellow friends and neighbors to enjoy. She always had a positive attitude and great work ethic, making a relatively simple task seem like an honor. Heather was more than an employee, she was a part of our work family and will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

While the Arizona Silver Belt and Copper Country News family is grieving this loss, our thoughts are with Heather’s family, who had just stood beside her as she beat cancer, making this loss all the more sudden and devastating. A strong lady lost too soon. We are committed to supporting her family through this difficult time by trying to cover her funeral expenses through a GoFundMe. This was a tragic and unexpected passing and Heather’s family shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone.

Our hearts go out to the lives lost and businesses in our community affected by the flooding. We are confident that as a united community, we will rebuild and be stronger than ever. The community of Globe and Miami is unstoppable, even in the face of tragedy."