Out of Africa launches flood recovery campaign after severe damage in Camp Verde

Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Out of Africa Wildlife Sanctuary have launched a coordinated recovery campaign after late-July flooding damaged about 60 acres of their Camp Verde property. All animals are safe, but fencing, roads and animal-care access need major repair as the park reopens on a limited basis.

Why it matters: - The flooding hit core infrastructure needed to keep animals safe, move feed and allow veterinary access. - Recovery costs are higher than a typical cleanup because the damage includes specialized fencing built to contain large animals. - The campaign gives supporters a direct way to help restore both the park’s physical operations and the sanctuary’s animal-care mission.

What happened: - Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Out of Africa Wildlife Sanctuary launched a Flood Recovery Campaign after severe flash flooding and storm runoff damaged about 60 acres in Camp Verde, Arizona. - Late-July flooding uprooted trees, deposited heavy mud and debris, damaged perimeter fencing and washed out dirt roads used for animal care and guest access. - All animals are accounted for, safely contained and unharmed. - The park reopened on a limited basis Aug. 1. - Much of the Serengeti area remains closed while crews clear debris, restore containment systems and assess when affected areas can reopen.

The details: - Crews have removed more than 40 truckloads of trees, logs, brush and other debris carried into the park by floodwaters. - Damage includes a newly installed 660-foot section of fencing funded by a $15,000 grant. - The fencing is welded steel that must be anchored in concrete and engineered to safely contain large animals. - Replacing that fence is more complex than conventional fence repair. - Dirt roads that support feed delivery and veterinary access were washed out. - Donations made directly to the Out of Africa Wildlife Sanctuary Recovery Fund will support qualifying charitable animal-care and recovery needs. - Corporations interested in contributing, sponsoring recovery efforts or matching employee donations may contact Ashton Powell at apowell@ooasanctuary.org. - Supporters can learn about recovery options and direct contributions by visiting the recovery page. - Only contributions made directly to Out of Africa Wildlife Sanctuary, a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. - Payments made to Out of Africa Wildlife Park are not charitable contributions and are not tax-deductible.

Between the lines: - The flood exposed how vulnerable the property is because it sits on a flood plain with limited ability to make major structural changes. - Ashton Powell said the goal is to restore essential access and containment while strengthening the property against future severe-weather events. - Powell also said the number of people asking how to help has been overwhelming, which suggests the recovery effort could draw broad community support. - NOAA’s July 9 update said El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen through the end of 2026. - With Arizona’s monsoon season continuing, the storm damage adds urgency to both immediate repairs and long-term resilience work.

What’s next: - Crews will continue debris removal, repair containment systems and reopen affected areas when they are safe. - The park and sanctuary will keep steering donations between physical recovery and animal-care needs. - High-resolution before-and-after photos, flood and recovery video, and interviews with General Manager Ashton Powell or Park Owner Prayeri Harrison are available upon request.

The bottom line: - The animals are safe, but the park’s infrastructure took a major hit, and recovery will require both money and time to restore full operations and reduce future flood risk.