Flash Floods Are a Real Danger in Sanderson Canyon

Sanderson sits at the bottom of Sanderson Canyon. On June 11, 1965, a flash flood sent a wall of water down the canyon and through the town. Twenty-six people died and many homes and businesses were destroyed. After the disaster, the community built eleven flood-control dams upstream to reduce future flooding risk.

The canyon setting still matters for anyone buying or renting property in Sanderson. Even with the dams in place, heavy rain upstream can cause dangerous runoff quickly. Check federal flood maps for any specific parcel you are considering. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov lets you look up any address to see its official flood zone designation.