National Guard rescues more than 100 people from Grand Canyon due to flooding

Grand Canyon National Park said it worked actively with the Arizona National Guard to rescue more than 100 people who were trapped by flooding that affected several areas of the park where dozens of tourists were staying.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs activated the Arizona National Guard to assist with rescue efforts on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is surrounded by Grand Canyon National Park, according to KNXV.

National Guard members had to use a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to evacuate 104 tourists and tribal members from a canyon on Havasupai tribal lands within the park.

“Grand Canyon National Park is actively participating in search and rescue operations following a flash flood that hit Havasu Creek,” they shared.

Area closed to tourists

Flooding caused by storms since Thursday forced local authorities to close the area to tourists and prompted several emergency evacuations. On Sunday, according to a CNN report, authorities are continuing to search for one person.

“The Arizona Department of Emergency Management and Military Affairs provided support with a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to evacuate 104 tourists and tribal members from a canyon after flood waters impacted the Havasupai community and tourists visiting Havasupai Falls,” the Arizona National Guard said.

Tribal leaders also closed off the remote village of Supai, located 8 miles below the rim of the Grand Canyon, the Havasupai Tribal Council said in a statement obtained by CNN.

“The falls are impassable”

“The entrance trail to Supai and the campground and falls are impassable, and damage to the campground is extensive,” the tribe said. “Therefore, the council has made the difficult, but necessary decision to close Havasupai to tourists until further notice.”

Flash flooding inside Grand Canyon National Park swept a hiker, identified as Chenoa Nickerson, 33, into Havasu Creek, according to the National Park Service, and search and rescue operations continued Sunday.

Search by land and air

Nickerson may have been swept away by flash flooding near the confluence of the Colorado River, according to a news release provided by the National Park Service. The park said the woman was not wearing a life jacket.

“Search efforts on Saturday, August 24 are focused on the areas of Beaver Falls, the Havasu Creek/Colorado River confluence, and the Colorado River. Search methods include aerial search, ground search, and rescue vessel search along the Colorado River,” the National Park Service said.

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