Emergency Response: Havasupai Flooding Strands Tourists and Tribal Members

An estimated 104 tribal members and tourists near Havasupai Falls were evacuated after floodwaters left them stranded, according to the Arizona National Guard.

On Friday evening, Governor Katie Hobbs deployed the Guard in response to flooding at the Havasupai reservation near the Grand Canyon, where the waters of Havasu Creek swept away a woman from Gilbert.

Rescue efforts, coordinated by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the National Park Service, and tribal officials, were supported by a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, according to a spokesperson for the Guard.

Deputy Jon Paxton of Coconino County confirmed that anyone requesting evacuation was taken to safety by Saturday afternoon.

The search for Chenoa Nickerson was ongoing, according to a spokesperson for the National Park Service.

Search on: Gilbert woman swept away in flash flood at Grand Canyon

Hannigan told local media that a crew of about five Guard members, mostly volunteers, assisted in the rescue efforts near Havasupai Falls, which is on the Havasupai tribal reservation.

“There was not what some people might think of dropping lines from a helicopter to pull people up. They were in an orderly fashion and ready to get on the aircraft,” Hannigan said. “It was all very well organized by the tribe. They made our lives a lot easier.”

The Guard also deployed three supply drop-offs consisting of necessities like food and water.

Hannigan said the Guard concluded its side of the operation by about 1:30 p.m. Saturday and had no further orders to support recovery efforts on Sunday.

“When we got there, people were cheering. They were very vocal about sharing excitement to probably get home,” Hannigan said.

Hannigan expressed pride in her fellow Guard members who responded to the emergency, including one crew member who interrupted paternity leave to assist in the rescue efforts.

“Arizona is a small and big state, and the entire community is something that we hold dear, and so being ready and willing to support the community as a whole, it’s just something that comes with a Guardsman,” she added.

Havasupai flood: Gilbert woman still missing after Grand Canyon flash flood, park indefinitely closed

Tribal officials: Supai community closed to tourists indefinitely

Damage from flooding prompted the Havasupai Tribal Council to close the community of Supai to tourists indefinitely due to impassable trails and extensive damage to the campground, according to a post by the tribe’s tourism page on social media.

The tribe had reopened Havasu Falls and Supai Village to tourists in February 2023 after years of closure due to COVID-19.

“My heart is with all of the people impacted by the flooding in Havasupai, including Tribal members and visitors to the area,” Hobbs stated. “The safety and security of Arizonans and all those who visit our state is always my top concern, and I’ll continue working closely with leaders on the ground to protect the Havasupai community.”

Nickerson, 33, went missing around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday during flash flooding approximately half a mile above the Colorado River. Officials noted that she was not wearing a life jacket at the time.

Nickerson is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the park service at 888-653-0009. As of midday Sunday, park officials had not provided an update on her disappearance.