Colorado flash floods: Texas man identified among 2 dead as search on for dozen missing

Grand Canyon Village (Arizona): Heavy rainstorms swept through the Grand Canyon on Monday, impeding search and recovery efforts for more than a dozen people missing after severe flash floods hit the national park over the weekend. National Park Service (NPS) officials confirmed that two bodies have been recovered following the deluge, which struck the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas on Saturday afternoon.

The flash flooding forced the evacuation of dozens of visitors and caused massive structural damage inside the canyon. Search teams recovered the body of a 46-year-old man on Sunday evening near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River, and officials confirmed the recovery of a second body on Monday. However, park officials warned that “forecasted weather may affect the timing and pace” of ongoing operations.
 

Families are awaiting news of missing loved ones, including Texas chiropractor John Giusti, 53, who set out Thursday on a trip with friends Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and Timothy Smith, 53. The three men had planned “several days of hiking, camping, fishing and exploring together”, according to a joint family statement. Meanwhile, Shannon Cahill reported that her brother Michael Wilhoit, 53, his daughter Mystic Wilhoit, 30, and her boyfriend have not been heard from since embarking on a three-night camping trip Saturday.

The floodwaters destroyed footbridges, blocked key trail crossings, and damaged roughly 40 percent of the Transcanyon Waterline – 12.5-mile pipeline delivering drinking water from Roaring Springs to the South Rim. In response, park officials barred tourists from staying at lodge accommodations inside the park, banned wood and charcoal fires, and enacted emergency water restrictions for residents and visitors.

The National Weather Service warned of continued flood risks across creeks, side canyons, and slot canyons, noting that recent burn areas from the July 2025 Dragon Bravo fire amplify runoff risks. As search operations continue alongside state emergency agencies, officials urge anyone who was in the park during the storm to contact rangers to confirm their safety.

Agencies