Deadly flash flood forces Grand Canyon evacuations and water restrictions, in photos
Tourists look down into the Grand Canyon off of the south rim, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 at Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.
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The bodies of two friends — a Texas chiropractor and a martial arts studio owner — have been found after a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon. Officials said Monday that one person remains unaccounted for after about 80 others were rescued over the weekend. Park officials did not release identities, but the families of the two deceased men identified them as John Giusti and Brent Rosenkranz. THey say their buddy Saturday’s flash flood severely damaged the only water pipeline into the canyon. Officials have barred tourists from staying at lodges and hotels inside Grand Canyon National Park and issued emergency water restrictions for year-round residents. Officials say they used the park’s permit system to track the number of missing people.
Tourists are scrambling to find lodging elsewhere after deadly flash flooding in the Grand Canyon. The national park’s latest natural disaster poses threats to the area's economy. A damaged water line has shut down all lodging at the canyon's South Rim. Last summer, a wildfire destroyed a lodge and eliminated lodging options at the canyon's North Rim. How long the latest lodging shutdown will last remains to be seen. South Rim restaurants remain open but experts warn that lost room bookings could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in local revenue. The Grand Canyon drew almost $1 billion a year in spending by nearly 5 million tourists in 2024.
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