On this day in 1983, southeastern Arizona was in the midst of a severeflooding event. A four-day deluge of rain ensued as a Pacific storm systempulled rich moisture from once-Tropical Storm Octave northeastward. Octavenever made landfall as a tropical storm. It dissipated well offshore of BajaCalifornia on October 2.Heavy rain totaled 12 inches at Mount Graham and 5 to 9 inches in the Tucsonmetro area. The ground prior to the inundating rain was already saturated afteran unusually wet August and September. The raging runoff in the metro areadamaged or partially washed away all bridges except one spanning the Santa CruzRiver. Flood waters eroded the banks of the Rillito River. Several buildingsgot swept away, including one that was five-months old and worth $500,000.
About 100 miles northeast of Tucson, the flooded San Francisco River swept awayhalf of Clifton. The town's 4,200 residents were left without electricity,clean water or phone service.
Arizona`s Costliest Natural Disaster
By AccuWeather
October 1, 2009 at 7:25PM
Severe flooding over this four-day span killed 14 people. Damages totaled $500million (over $1 billion in 2008 dollars), making this event the state'scostliest natural disaster.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski
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NONFICTION: “Category Five” says those catastrophic events are commonly being eclipsed, because of climate crisis.