Flash floods devastate parts of Southwest as storms threaten Election Day travel

(CNN)- Severe flash flooding has devastated parts of the Southwest, destroying homes, closing roads and sending rivers and creeks above major flood stage as the storm system moves toward the central United States on Election Day. Officials say more than 10 rivers, creeks and washes across Arizona and Colorado have exceeded major flood stage, with some waterways reaching record levels. We haven t seen impacts like this in years, if ever, one official said. In Arizona, emergency management officials are urging residents to avoid flooded roads and obey barricades. We tell people that if we ve got road closed signs and barricades across the roads, they re there for a reason and that reason is your safety, said Tim Carter, director of Coconino County Emergency Management. The flooding has caused extensive damage across central Arizona, where officials say more than a dozen homes have been destroyed. Camp Verde resident Tori Talkington described how quickly the floodwaters arrived. I me