Arizona monsoon hazards: Flooded areas risk engine damage, tree falls, and roof leaks

PHOENIX - While it might be the end of the monsoon season, the weather is still expected to be active, with rain possibly on the way early this week. With it, comes a danger seen every time a storm moves through.

Active Weather:

Flooded roads can look passable, but for drivers who take the chance, the consequences can be costly.

Underpasses can turn into flood zones in a matter of minutes when a storm moves in. While everyone has somewhere to be, safety officials and mechanics emphasize that one thing isn’t worth the risk — trying to drive through floodwater.

Potential Damage:

Auto repair expert Luis Medina, with After Hours Auto and Truck, warns driving through floodwater can cause serious damage, from electrical problems to brake failure. Worst case, water can get into the engine, hydro-lock it, and leave drivers facing an $8,000 to $10,000 replacement.

"If water were to get up here and splash over what this does, it sucks," Medina said, referring to water splashing over the hood of a vehicle. "So all the water would go in here, season into where the intake manifold is. Go inside the engine and hydrologic it."

It does not take much water to create a serious problem. Public safety officials say just 12 inches of moving water can sweep a car off the road. 

"Your brakes corroding, the transmission breather, the fuel tank, air valves, it could go inside your air. Then water will mix into your fuel," Medina said. 'The fuel gets shot into your engine, water gets into your engine and just causes a whole mess."

While floodwaters can hit your wallet hard, they can also put your life at risk. 

"If your car does start to hydroplane, please ease off the gas pedal and do not hit the brakes. If your car starts to get flooded, if you can safely get out of your car and get to higher ground, that's what we recommend," Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller said. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) said they are already preparing to be ready to respond to flood-prone spots, like underpasses.

"Our crews maintain our drainage system. They can also clear those during a storm, but they make sure those are clear year round in preparation for flooding.  And we also have our hydrovac that are ready that can pump water off the road if needed,' Alexis Potter with ADOT said. 'We do have crews on call across the state that are ready to respond in case of emergencies due to flooding."

Tree Removal Surge:

During monsoon season, tree removal services operate more reactively, responding to calls as they come in. During the rest of the year, people tend to schedule their services in advance. 

Local perspective:

B and C Tree Service usually gets 40 to 50 calls a day during monsoon season compared to the usual five to 10 calls during non-monsoon months.

"Rather than trying to be proactive on things the rest of the year, monsoon triggers the reactive response," said Alex Carey, owner of B and C Tree Service.

Problems usually occur in areas where there has not been much irrigation, or rain, or young trees. Or, where there is too much water too soon, causing roots to spread out rather than grow deep. 

"Most of the uprooting happens across HOAs, where they’re giving a lot of water, too much, too soon, and too frequently where they’re roots are not deep, and then you see a complete uprooting happening," he said. 

More issues are also seen in areas with younger trees, particularly in developing communities like Peoria and Surprise. To prevent trees from falling, property owners should know what to look out for before a storm comes in.

"If you see some cracking happening in the soil, usually that means that the root structure's been compromised; that there's some movement within the root structure, so look for any kind of cracking in the dirt," Carry said.  

Roofing Issues:

Roofing businesses like D and M Roofing are also getting more calls, typically around 25 to 30, during this season.

"If you don’t get them repaired in time, underlayment deteriorates, and it’s what causes a leak," owner David Garcia said. 

Garcia said broken tiles and shingles could fly off, roofs can leak and valleys and gutters can get clogged.

"Most importantly, on tile roofs, underlayment can’t be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, so if you have a broken tile it needs to be replaced before the underlayment gets deteriorated," he added.

Debris will stop the flow of water if it is not cleared out.

"Leaves start accumulating and whenever the water flows, that accumulation actually stops the water, and the water starts diverting to where it’s not supposed to," said Garcia.

What you can do:

Officials remind drivers to avoid flooded streets, underpasses, and low-water crossings, and never try to drive through moving water. Drivers should check their brakes and tire tread, replace worn windshield wipers, and keep a safety and emergency kit in the car. 

 If flooding is reported, drivers should give themselves extra time, slow down, and take an alternate route.

For any younger trees, Carey recommends placing stakes on them for a year or two to hold them up during monsoon season. For roofing, Garcia recommends getting a licensed contractor to evaluate the roof every two years.

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