Overview
- A sudden flash flood raced through Bright Angel Canyon on Aug. 29, sweeping away trails and footbridges and prompting helicopter and ground rescues of about 82 people.
- Search teams recovered two bodies identified as John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and one hiker, Timothy Allen Smith, 53, remains officially listed as missing with active search-and-rescue operations underway.
- Rescue efforts use helicopters, K-9 teams, boats, drones and ground crews as crews continue to search the flood zone and look for any other people who may have been in the area without daytime permits.
- Preliminary inspections show roughly 40% of the park’s Transcanyon Waterline was damaged or destroyed, leading the park to impose stage-four water restrictions and halt all overnight stays inside the canyon while both rims remain open for day use.
- Monsoon downpours can trigger fast, debris-laden flows in narrow, burn-scarred drainages, and park officials say repairing miles of damaged pipeline will be needed and could disrupt services and visitor plans for an extended period.