GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — A catastrophic flash flood swept through the floor of the Grand Canyon on the weekend of August 29, 2026, resulting in at least two confirmed deaths and an ongoing search for more than a dozen individuals who remain missing or unaccounted for. The event, described as the biggest flood in the national park since 1966, forced a massive emergency evacuation of scores of visitors from the canyon floor.
Grand Canyon flood is park’s biggest since 1966
Texas chiropractor is among dead from Grand Canyon flood
Among the deceased is John Giusti, a Texas chiropractor who worked for ChiroHabit in Granbury, Texas. Giusti, a former partner at Whipple City Family Chiropractic in New York, was hiking with a group at the time of the deluge. His death was confirmed by his family on Monday following a message posted on Facebook by his former practice. Survivors described a harrowing escape as they raced through rising, muddy water to reach higher ground. Gabriel Bergemann and David Gregory, who were backpacking together at the bottom of the park on Saturday afternoon, told ABC News that park rangers instructed them to cross a footbridge over a raging creek to reach safety. Bergemann noted that the bridge was washed away by a wall of water just 10 minutes after they crossed it.
Hiker Daniel Evans, who was planning to spend the night near the Bright Angel campground, recalled experiencing several periods of rain before a severe 30-minute downpour struck Saturday afternoon. While rangers initially indicated the area was safe, they later ordered an evacuation as conditions deteriorated. Evans recounted that throughout the entire duration of the rain and his subsequent packing, he kept his eyes fixed upstream, praying that a wall of water would not head in their direction. Rescuers successfully saved some 80 people over the weekend, according to officials.
Transcanyon Waterline damaged by flood
The flood also caused severe damage to critical infrastructure. The 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies water for the park’s 4.4 million annual visitors, was significantly impacted. Grand Canyon Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux stated that officials estimate roughly 40% of the pipeline endured damage, though a full survey will not be completed until Tuesday at the earliest. The pipeline, which has broken more than 85 times since 2010, was already the subject of a more than $200 million upgrade project that began in 2023. Addressing the current destruction is expected to be difficult, as the terrain is so rugged that helicopters are often required for basic repairs.
Emergency water restrictions for year-round residents
In response to the water supply crisis, park officials have barred tourists from staying at lodges and hotels inside the park and implemented emergency water restrictions for year-round residents. Residents and remaining staff have been asked to take short showers, turn off taps while brushing teeth, and flush toilets selectively. Longtime hiker and river runner Tom Martin highlighted the necessity of these measures, noting the need to maintain resources for law enforcement, rescue operations, park administration, the clinic, and the campground.
The flash flooding was triggered by 1.24 inches of rain over a three-hour period. Because of the lack of vegetation and the presence of burn scars from recent fires, the landscape is highly susceptible to such events. Forecasters warned that the risk of additional flash flooding remained high heading into the week. Officials emphasized that weather radios do not function very far down into the canyon, and visitors require satellite messaging devices to receive essential weather alerts in the backcountry. As monsoon season continues through September, the search for the missing remains the park’s primary focus.