Navajo Voters Overcome Historic Floods to Reach the Polls in Dennehotso

Voters across the Navajo Reservation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, took extraordinary measures to cast their ballots following a series of devastating autumn floods. Outside the Dennehotso Chapterhouse, trucks with mud-coated tires pulled up against a backdrop of Comb Ridge and the distant spires of Monument Valley, while residents gathered over fresh fry bread and mutton stew.

The region has endured three floods over the past month, but the most severe struck on October 22, when floodwaters originated up to 60 miles away and surged toward Dennehotso. Local contractor Kev Woolboy worked alongside emergency responders to check highway watersheds as the deluge approached. "We have some man-made earth dams that were supposed to slow [the water] down," Woolboy said. "But there was so much rain, those earth dams didn’t stand a chance."

Surging Waters and Midnight Rescues

The floodwaters destroyed homes, wrecked newly constructed roads, severed power and water infrastructure, and submerged portions of the community in deep mud. Resident Phyllis Yazzie, 74, remembered having a late breakfast with her son when her niece called to warn her about the approaching wash. After seeing the water rise, they attempted to drive out along their dirt road but were forced to retreat to higher ground on their property as torrents carved deep ravines on either side of their home.

"We parked the car and we spent the night in the vehicle," Yazzie said. "But they were trying to rescue us."

Woolboy served as a local guide for the Navajo Police Department, which deployed an amphibious vehicle to pull stranded families to safety. "I was jumping into the water and bringing the kids and some of the elders on board and helping them with their personal belongings," Woolboy said. However, as darkness fell and silt filled the water, navigating became impossible. Spotting a washed-out road ahead under emergency floodlights, Woolboy advised officers to halt, forcing the rescue team to turn back before reaching Yazzie’s house that night.

Community Effort Delivers Voters to the Chapterhouse

Two weeks later, the town remained in recovery mode. On election day, heavy equipment operators used a backhoe to construct a temporary road so cut-off residents could reach the polling site. Chapter employees and volunteer drivers shuttled voters back and forth, with some individuals traveling for hours to participate.

Among those arriving at the polls was 92-year-old Lilien Begay, accompanied by her daughter Vera Begay. The elder Begay lost her home and all of her personal identification documents during the flooding, speaking in Navajo about her deep emotional devastation. Her daughter noted that despite the tragedy, Lilien had never missed a vote in her entire life.

Despite political differences, residents joined together at the polls to support one another. "I love to see our people come out and talk amongst each other," said 27-year-old resident Urbina Yazzie, noting that some voters relied on farm equipment just to handle the damaged terrain. "People are having to drive on tractors to get from one road to another, just to come and vote."

Volunteer shuttles and heavy machinery operators continued working throughout election day to ensure every isolated voter on the reservation had a path to the Dennehotso Chapterhouse.