A weekend in the Grand Canyon became a deadly emergency as flash floods surged through the park, killing two people, leaving another missing, cutting off routes and prompting a large helicopter evacuation.
Two hikers remain missing as of Tuesday as search crews continue searching the flood-damaged canyon.
CBS News reported Sept. 1 that John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, died in the flooding. Their friend Timothy Allen Smith remained missing after an earlier list of roughly 15 unaccounted-for people was narrowed to one by Monday night.
The Aug. 29 flood hit Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, where the National Park Service says nearly every footbridge across Bright Angel Creek was destroyed. By Monday night, 82 people had been evacuated from affected areas, according to CBS News.
Visitors Had Minutes to React
Heavy rain began overwhelming Bright Angel Creek Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the basin at 2:42 p.m., warning of life-threatening flooding as storms dumped rain over the steep canyon.
Rangers ordered people near Phantom Ranch to move quickly as the water rose. Erica Viola told CBS News that she and her boyfriend ran for safety across a footbridge that was swept away not long after. “Five minutes later we would have been washed,” she said.
Giusti’s body was recovered Sunday night near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River, CBS News reports. Rosenkranz’s death was later confirmed by a family representative, while crews continued searching Tuesday for Smith.
The flood also damaged equipment meant to warn people of rising water. In a Sept. 1 report, CBS News said stream gauges detected rising water before going offline as the flood moved downstream; park staff had not yet determined exactly why they failed.
Parts of the Grand Canyon Will Look Very Different for Visitors
Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the entire North Kaibab Trail remain closed with “no estimated reopening of these closure areas at this time,” according to the National Park Service. Other trails and viewpoints remain open, and visitors can still access both the North and South rims.
The flooding also knocked the Transcanyon Waterline out of service. The pipeline carries water through the canyon to park facilities, and CBS News reported Monday that about 40% of it had been destroyed.
That damage has forced a much broader change above the canyon. Beginning Aug. 31, the National Park Service suspended overnight lodging inside the park, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village. Hotels outside the park in Tusayan are not affected.
The South Rim remains open for day trips, with food service and other basic operations continuing under water restrictions. Anyone with an upcoming hike, camping reservation or overnight stay should check the National Park Service before setting out for their destination, because conditions and closures are continually evolving as crews assess the damage.