Most days the Little Colorado River near Winslow is a sandy, braided channel with little or no water in it. Then a spring of heavy snowmelt or a run of monsoon storms arrives, and the river reminds everyone why the 1870s Mormon settlement of Sunset, near what is now Homolovi State Park just north of town, was abandoned in the early 1880s after repeated floods washed it out. Winslow itself gets only about 7 inches of precipitation a year, yet water from the high country upstream can still reach town.
The Restoration Job operates a free referral line for this area. Dial (888) 317-9980, day or night, and we'll connect you with an independent restoration provider that serves Winslow. That company inspects, prices and carries out the work. We don't do restoration ourselves, and availability depends on the provider and how many calls a storm generates.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Winslow. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
When the Little Colorado Comes Up
The river drains a huge stretch of eastern Arizona, and Winslow sees the results of rain and snow that fell far away. During the March 21 to 23, 2023 storm, which combined heavy rain with snowmelt across northern Arizona, the National Weather Service in Flagstaff recorded the Little Colorado River near Winslow at 22.1 feet and about 11,939 cubic feet per second on the morning of March 22. In July 2021, prolonged high water on the same river washed out or closed roads north of town, including Navajo Route 2.
Historic floods were larger still. The river's highest recorded peak was 120,000 cubic feet per second in September 1923, and 1949, 1973, 1979, 1983 and 1993 all brought big snowmelt seasons. Checking the effective flood map for your address and watching river forecasts during wet springs are reasonable habits for anyone near the river corridor.
Monsoon Runoff Across Town
River flooding is the dramatic risk; local runoff is the frequent one. A summer thunderstorm can dump a large share of a month's rain in an hour on streets, alleys and yards that were graded with dry weather in mind. Water then pools against walls, enters through garage doors and slab joints, and backs up storm drains clogged with blowing sand.
Muddy runoff inside a building should be treated as contaminated. Professional flood cleanup includes removing standing water and silt, taking out saturated porous materials, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and then drying the structure with dehumidifiers and air movers until moisture readings are back to normal.
Railroad-Era Buildings and Historic Districts
Winslow incorporated in 1900 and grew up around the railroad and later Route 66. The Winslow Commercial Historic District, the Winslow Residential Historic District and the La Posada Historic District are all on the National Register, and La Posada itself dates to 1930. Older brick and frame buildings like these can have basements or partial cellars, layered roofs, and plumbing that has been altered many times.
In those structures, water travels in ways that are hard to predict: down a chase from a roof leak, across an old floor before soaking a wall, or into a basement through a foundation that predates modern waterproofing. A provider handling structural drying in an older building will usually map moisture in several rooms, not just where the water was first seen.
Cold Snaps on the High Desert
Winslow's winters are mild by northern Arizona standards, with around 8 inches of snow a season, but the record low is 19 below zero. A hard freeze is enough to split pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, crawl spaces, carports and detached laundry rooms. Disconnect hoses, insulate exposed lines and keep cabinet doors open on sink walls when temperatures drop well below freezing. If a line breaks, shut the main valve first, then call for extraction and drying.
Mold Prevention After Water Gets In
Desert air dries a puddle quickly, but it does far less for wet insulation, carpet pad or the inside of a wall. After a leak or flood, mold tends to show up where water was hidden and air does not move. A musty smell in a closet, staining at the base of drywall or loose floor tiles a few weeks later are signs of trapped moisture.
For anything beyond a small, surface-level spot, or for growth following floodwater, ask a provider about mold remediation that includes containment, removal of affected materials and confirmation that the area is dry.
Where Callers in the Winslow Area Are
Calls come in from across Winslow, including:
- Winslow Commercial Historic District
- Winslow Residential Historic District
- La Posada Historic District
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Questions From Winslow Property Owners
Is my Winslow home at risk from the river even if it never flooded before?
Possibly. The Little Colorado can stay low for years and then rise sharply after a wet winter or a stretch of monsoon storms upstream. Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, ask the city about local floodplain rules, and remember that flood maps show modeled risk, not a promise that water will stay away. Many homes outside mapped zones still take on stormwater during heavy local rain.
Does homeowners insurance pay for river or runoff flooding?
Generally no. Surface water and river flooding are usually excluded from homeowners policies and require a separate flood policy, such as one through the National Flood Insurance Program. These policies often have a waiting period before coverage starts, so buying one when the river is already rising may be too late. A burst pipe, by contrast, is commonly covered under a standard policy.
What should I do first after water comes in from a storm?
Stay out of standing water if outlets or cords are submerged and turn off power only if you can reach the panel safely. Photograph everything, move valuables to a dry area and call (888) 317-9980 to be connected with an independent provider serving Winslow. Report the loss to your insurer promptly and keep receipts for any emergency purchases.
Does Winslow have a hazard plan?
Yes. The City of Winslow is one of seven jurisdictions in the Navajo County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan, which received FEMA approval in June 2025. The city's website links to the plan. It is a planning document rather than a guide for individual cleanups, but it is useful background on the hazards the region prepares for.