Flash floods hit Grand Canyon: 2 dead, 1 missing
Grand Canyon flash flooding: Crews continue search
Search teams continue looking for a missing hiker, after monsoon storms triggered flash flooding in the Grand Canyon over the weekend. FOX 10's Megan Spector reports.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Search and rescue efforts continue at the Grand Canyon after monsoon storms triggered deadly flash flooding through the inner canyon on Saturday.
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At one point, officials were looking for about 15 people they feared were missing or unaccounted for. Now, they have confirmed there is only one person in the hiking group who remains missing. He is identified as 53-year-old Tim Smith, a pilot from Wyoming.
Two people, meanwhile, are confirmed dead. On Sept. 1, the National Park Service identified the two as John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42. Both were from Granbury, Texas.
In a GoFundMe shared online, Giusti's family called him a "real-life superhero," a "gifted healer," and a "powerhouse of life" who was reportedly on the trip of a lifetime in the Canyon. He was visiting the Grand Canyon with two of his friends, who are still missing, according to the three families.
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It is important to note this number is based strictly on cross-checking permits and reservations. Because day hikers are not required to check in, officials fear others could be unknowingly missing. That is why park officials are still asking for help. Anyone who knows someone missing who was hiking along the Bright Angel Creek corridor Saturday is asked to reach out to the National Park Service.
Local perspective:
Hikers continue to share their evacuation stories after the flash flooding.
"We got everybody over there to the other side of the bridge on the trails. It was the safest place that we could go for the time being."
"We saw all the like, construction equipment, like cabins and ice chests and all kinds of things floating in the Colorado River."
(Related) Grand Canyon flood: Search continues for missing victims
At least 62 people were evacuated from the Grand Canyon after deadly severe flooding in the Grand Canyon area, and crews are still searching for missing hikers. FOX 10's Megan Spector reports.
A plumber who was on the job in the inner canyon on Saturday, Aug. 29, was with a group of 16 workers and about 50 hikers when the flash flooding came through around 2:30 p.m. He says they were able to make sure everyone in that group was accounted for, and they were airlifted out. However, he is still praying for those who did not make it and who are still out there.
"Just praying for those families. Praying for those people. Hope that they can find them. Very sad to hear about the two people that they found already. But, I hope they can find the other people," Joey Martin said.
What you can do:
The National Park Service is still asking for the public’s help. If anyone knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday, reach out to the National Park Service at 888-653-0009 or nps_isb@nps.gov.
"If you know of hikers/backpackers who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor Aug. 29—or had a campground reservation there—please contact NPS Investigative Services Branch," NPS said. "This includes those who may have been on the North Kaibab Trail between the trailhead and Phantom Ranch, at Bright Angel Campground, or in "the Box" north of Phantom Ranch."
What's next:
Certain areas, trails, and campsites remain closed. The Department of the Interior believes about 40% of the Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed, which is the pipeline in the park. Stage 4 water restrictions are in place as well.
"That line was battered, bruised, and decimated in certain areas," Grand Canyon National Park Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux said. "So we will have a full accounting of what that devastation looks like starting tomorrow as we put teams on the ground to do that level of review and assessment."
Remnants of stone bridge pylons remain along Bright Angel Creek following a flash flood that destroyed the footbridge on August 29. The flooding caused significant damage to infrastructure throughout the canyon. Credit: NPS Photo/J. Thompson
Meanwhile, weather conditions are looking to improve for crews searching the canyon on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
"It has not stopped raining since this happened on and off," Black said. "It has delayed recovery efforts for the ones we know about and has delayed search to put boots on the ground inside the inner canyon. As it's not safe today, we were under a flash flood warning rain very hard all day. So our weather is looking much better tomorrow."
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There were some questions regarding staffing cuts that have been made by the Trump administration to the NPS over the past year and a half. Officials during Monday evening's press conference said no emergency workers have been reassigned from the Grand Canyon in the weeks leading up to this flooding.