Navajo-Diné Flood Relief and Recovery
Photo: Navajo Times | Sharon Chischilly
Help Navajo communities recover from flooding!
Give toward locally identified needs, express interest in serving, and stay connected as opportunities develop.
Stand With Navajo Communities
Recent flooding has damaged homes and roads and disrupted access to food, water, and essential services across parts of the Navajo Nation. Local agencies, churches, and community organizations are responding as families begin recovery.
Experience Mission (EM) has worked alongside Navajo pastors and community leaders since 2003. Those relationships guide our next steps: listening to local priorities and connecting people and resources with the work communities are ready to undertake.
Join the Volunteer Interest List
Give Toward Navajo Recovery (Coming Soon)
Bring a Group to Help (Coming Soon)
What Is Happening
Two separate rounds of flooding have hit the Navajo Nation this fall. In mid-September, flash flooding closed roads and isolated communities in the eastern part of the Nation, and the Navajo Nation president declared a state of emergency on September 18. In late October, historic flooding along the San Juan River led the Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Management to issue evacuation notices for Bluff, Montezuma Creek, and Aneth, Utah, and 30 families evacuated in Dennehotso, Arizona.
As of October 27, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority crews were still working to restore power and water in parts of Chinle, Tuba City, Fort Defiance, Kayenta, and Shiprock, and the Navajo Housing Authority was coordinating emergency housing for displaced families. Floodwaters also damaged wastewater facilities in some areas, so cleanup may involve contaminated water.
These reports come from local and national news outlets and Navajo Nation sources:
- KNAU Arizona Public Radio - Power, water, evacuations, and housing updates as of October 27
- Deseret News - Evacuation notices and shelters along the San Juan River
- Associated Press - September flooding and the state of emergency
- AZFamily - Local emergency declarations and regional relief giving
The amount of damage is still being reported, but families will undoubtedly need essential supplies and help with cleanup, repairs, and rebuilding in the months ahead.
EM is currently exploring volunteer opportunities as soon as December 2026. Dates and exact locations are not yet confirmed.
Reported areas of need as of October 28, 2026. Highlights are approximate regional areas, not flood boundaries or confirmed EM volunteer sites.
Choose How You Can Help
Give Toward Relief and Recovery
Help meet disaster-related needs identified alongside Navajo partners. Depending on local priorities, gifts may support food and essential supplies, supervised cleanup, home repairs, rebuilding materials, and the field operations needed to deliver assistance.
Give Toward Navajo Recovery (Coming Soon)
Volunteer for Cleanup and Care
You do not need construction experience to express interest. Potential roles include packing food boxes, sorting requested supplies, helping with distribution, preparing meals, and supporting local churches. Approved cleanup tasks may be available when sites are safe and appropriate supervision is in place.
Join the Volunteer Interest List
Bring a Group to Help (Coming Soon)
Bring Skills for Repair and Rebuilding
Have experience in roofing, carpentry, drywall, flooring, plumbing, electrical work, or construction leadership? Share your skills and availability. Qualified volunteers may help assess projects, prepare materials, guide teams, and repair homes as opportunities are confirmed.
Provide Requested Supplies
Help local partners receive items they have specifically requested and can distribute. Contact EM before collecting, buying, or shipping supplies so your contribution matches current needs and receiving capacity.
Pray and Stay Connected
Pray for affected families, Navajo pastors, community leaders, and responders. Receive updates and share this page with your church, friends, or workplace to invite others into the recovery effort.
Receive Navajo Recovery Updates
Support Food Distribution in Black Mesa
Before the flooding, EM had begun raising funds to complete a food distribution warehouse in Black Mesa, Arizona. The project is intended to expand local capacity to receive, organize, and distribute food, an ongoing need made more urgent when disasters interrupt daily life.
You can also support this longer-term community priority. Choose the warehouse project when giving specifically toward its completion.
Support the Black Mesa Food Warehouse
How Your Donation Is Used
For Navajo disaster relief and recovery gifts, 89.5% of the donation available after payment method fees supports relief and recovery in affected communities. The remaining 10.5% supports administration and partner support.
What to Expect
Local Leadership Guides the Work
Navajo partners know their neighbors and understand local priorities. EM will work alongside them as plans develop. Volunteer roles, locations, and timelines will depend on community needs, safe access, and arrangements to support teams responsibly.
Volunteer Opportunities Are Being Explored
EM is exploring the possibility of volunteer opportunities as soon as December 2026. Joining the interest list helps us stay in touch; it does not reserve a place or confirm a trip. Before registration, we will share available dates, costs, lodging arrangements, responsibilities, and participation requirements.
Flood cleanup can involve contaminated water, mold, and structural hazards. Assignments will depend on appropriate preparation, protective equipment, supervision, and qualifications.
Serve With Respect
Volunteers will follow local leadership, honor elders and sacred spaces, respect privacy, and participate in EM's preparation for culturally respectful service. Every volunteer agrees to these commitments:
- Sovereignty - As a guest serving in the Navajo Nation, I recognize that it is a sovereign, self-governing nation. I agree to follow and honor the laws and regulations set forth by this nation.
- Alcohol - I will respect Navajo Nation alcohol laws and Experience Mission's no-alcohol requirement. I agree not to bring, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages at any time during my volunteer stay on and off of the reservation, including evenings and free time.
- Local leadership and culture - I will respect local leadership and culture. I will follow my community partner's guidance, respect local customs and differing beliefs, listen before acting, and ask when unsure.
- Community members and elders - I will honor community members and elders. I will treat elders with patience and respect, follow my host's guidance, and honor each person's wishes when offering help.
- Religious and sacred spaces - I will respect religious and sacred spaces. I will enter religious spaces or activities only with permission, follow local guidance, respect differing beliefs, and never pressure others to participate.
- Language and noise - I will be respectful with my language and limit the noise I bring. I will speak and act respectfully, honor quiet hours, and keep music and noise from disrupting neighbors, worship, or ceremonies.
- Housing - I will treat my housing location with the same respect I would expect others to show my own home or place of worship. I will maintain an orderly environment by cleaning up after myself and others. I will also respect the values of my hosts, whether or not I share them.
- Privacy and care for the community - I will protect privacy and care for the community. I will obtain permission before taking or sharing photos, recordings, or personal stories. I will respect privacy, property, and restricted areas, clean up after myself, and portray people with dignity.
- Guidance and honest questions - I will accept guidance and speak up. I will follow safety instructions and partner rules, accept corrections and adjust my behavior, and promptly raise concerns or questions with my community partner or EM.
These commitments keep the work led by Navajo partners and protect the dignity of the families EM serves alongside.
Stay Connected to Navajo Recovery
Tell us how you would like to help. We will share confirmed opportunities and practical next steps as plans develop.
Written and reviewed by Experience Mission Staff - Updated: November 5, 2026
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