Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. A flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona has left more than 20 people potentially missing, according to park officials. The “significant flash-flood event” occurred in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Saturday, and I’m sure it was a real surprise for the hikers and backpackers in the area. I mean, who expects a flash flood in one of the most beautiful national parks in the country, right?
The National Park Service has issued a news release stating that they are working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area, and they’re asking anyone with information to come forward. Bless their hearts, I hope they’re able to find everyone safely. The park staff, along with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are doing their best to evacuate people and respond to the situation.
As of Sunday, at least 62 people have been evacuated, which is a good sign, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. The park service is planning additional evacuations from Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch, and they’re urging anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who may have been in the area to contact them.
One hiker, David Gregory, told CNN that he was hiking with a small group when the flooding cut their trip short. He said they realized the creek near their camp was “black with debris and flowing rapidly,” which sounds like a pretty scary situation. Fortunately, they were evacuated by helicopter and taken to a local high school before being set up with a hotel for the night.
The Grand Canyon has been experiencing a series of storms, with about 1 inch of rain recorded over the past 24 hours. Showers have been mostly confined to the north side of the canyon, but more storms are possible overnight into early Monday, which could produce more flash flooding. You can’t make this stuff up, folks – the weather can be pretty unpredictable, especially in beautiful places like the Grand Canyon.
No injuries have been reported, which is a miracle, considering the circumstances. The National Park Service is doing their best to respond to the situation, and I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to prevent anything like this from happening again in the future.
In conclusion, this is a developing story, and I’m sure we’ll hear more about it in the coming days. Let’s just hope that everyone who was affected by the flash flood is safe and sound, and that the park service can get everything back to normal soon. And to all the hikers and backpackers out there, be careful and stay alert – you never know when Mother Nature might throw you a curveball! 🙏
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
