GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ — A major flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park has left two people dead and one person still missing after weekend rescue operations in northern Arizona. Park officials said the bodies of a Texas chiropractor and a lifelong martial artist were recovered after the flooding swept through the Bright Angel Creek area. About 80 people were rescued over the weekend, and search teams continued Monday for the remaining unaccounted person. Officials also said the storm badly damaged the park’s only water pipeline, forcing new limits on visitors and residents.
The flood struck an area that draws millions of visitors each year and is known for hikers, rafters and steep canyon terrain. Rangers said the danger from floodwater, mud and debris made travel and rescue work difficult.
Search Continues
Grand Canyon Deputy Superintendent Brian G. Duffy said officials have not fully surveyed the damage, but they do know the pipeline took major harm. He said roughly 60% of that pipeline is damaged. The park has also barred tourists from staying in lodges and hotels inside the park while crews assess the situation.
Searchers used helicopters and other equipment to look for the missing person and to find anyone who needed help during the emergency. Duffy said at least one person was found in a crevice near the river and later rescued. He added that park staff were still checking vehicle license plates and other records to account for missing visitors.
Who Was Found
Park officials identified the two people whose bodies were recovered as a 33-year-old Texas chiropractor and a third man, Timothy Smith, 50, a lifelong martial artist. Authorities said the two men were among the people caught in the flood as it moved through the canyon area. Another person remains missing.
Family members said the two recovered bodies belonged to the men whose remains were found after the flood. The missing man was described by relatives as having been on the trip with the other two. Park officials have not released a full accounting of every rescued person or every missing visitor.
Water System Damage
The park’s water pipeline runs from the Colorado River near Phantom Ranch and carries water to the Grand Canyon. Officials said the flood severely damaged the line, which serves visitors and the park’s roughly 500 year-round residents. Because the pipeline is out of service, the park issued emergency water restrictions.
Those restrictions mean the park is relying on stored water while the line is repaired. Officials said Grand Canyon National Park’s water system is a crucial investment for keeping the park open and meeting daily needs, but they did not give a firm completion date. The project to rehabilitate and upgrade the system began in 2023 and had been expected to finish next year.
Storm Risk
Arizona’s monsoon season has made the Grand Canyon especially vulnerable to flash flooding, and officials said summer storms can turn dangerous quickly. Clear days can give way to heavy rain, thunder and fast-moving water with little warning. The Bright Angel Creek area, where the flood hit, is one of the places most exposed to that pattern.
Researchers and park staff say changing climate conditions may intensify short bursts of heavy rainfall in the region. That can raise the odds of flooding in narrow canyons and low-lying areas. For now, park officials are focused on the search, the water restrictions and the damage assessment as the canyon continues to recover from the weekend storm.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
