2015 — Sep 14, Flash Flood; Hildale & Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park, UT — 21
— 21 Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.[1]
— >19 AP. “Another Body Found in Utah/Arizona Flooding.” KOLO8 TV, 9-17-2015.[2]
Arizona ( 1)
— 1 Mohave Co., AZ. Ryan Daniel Mertlich, 33; heavily damaged car found in flood plain.[3]
Utah (19-20)
— 13 Hildale, Washington Co., (3 women and 10 children). Fox 13 (Winslow), SLC, 9-21-2015.[4]
— 12 Hildale, (and 1 missing).[5] CNN (Martinez, et al.). 9-16-2015.
— 7 Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park. AP. “The Latest: Searchers find 7th…” 9-17-2015.
Hildale, Washington County, Narrative Information
Sep 16, CNN: “Two vehicles carrying women and children from a park were washed away by a flash flood barreling down a canyon near the Utah-Arizona border, leaving 12 people dead and one person missing, officials said Tuesday [Sep 15]….At least six children and three women died in the vehicles that were swept away in the border area, according to Utah officials in the city of Hildale and with Washington County Emergency Services….The youngest fatality was a child about age 4, said Hildale Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Barlow. The two vehicles carried a total of 16 women and children after a visit to a park, the mayor said. Most in the community are members of the Warren Jeffs polygamist sect known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or FLDS….
“More than six-tenths of an inch of rain fell within one hour on Monday afternoon, the park service said.
“According to the park service, Keyhole Canyon, on the east side of Zion National Park, is a narrow canyon formed by water wearing through rock. People hiking through also have to rappel and climb rocks and swim across small pools of water. A permit is required….” (CNN (Martinez, Martinez, Mossburg and Yan). “Floods in Utah kill 16, leave four missing.” 9-16-2015.)
Sep 18, AP.ABC News: “….The flash flooding also killed at least 12 other people [besides seven in Zion], including nine children, in a nearby polygamous town on the Utah-Arizona border. Raging waters swept two cars downstream, leaving a 6-year-old boy still missing. Three other children survived….” (Associated Press. “Zion Park Releases Names of 7 Killed in Flash Flooding.” ABC News, 9-18-2015.)
Sep 30: “The search for a 6-year old boy who was washed away in a flood in Hildale, Utah, has been suspended and non-local resources have returned to their jurisdictions, according to the Washington County Emergency Services. Outside resources left the search area Sunday night and local search crews will resume searching with dog teams either this weekend or next, the agency wrote Monday evening on its Facebook page. Search and rescue volunteers over the weekend combed high probability areas for Tyson Lucas Black, who is presumed to be dead. The flood that swept Tyson away from his family on Sept. 14 also killed his mother, two other women and nine other children. Hildale Fire Chief Kevin Barlow said searchers could return to the Utah-Arizona line this weekend to search a 12-mile stretch of wash where Tyson Lucas Black’s body may be buried, the Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday….” (Las Vegas Review-Journal (Kimber Laux). “Search for Utah boy missing after flood suspended.” 9-30-2015.)
Keyhole Canyon, Zion National Park, Narrative Information
Sep 15, SLT: “Four people were found dead and three others were missing Tuesday in Zion National Park, one day after the group went into Keyhole Canyon as flash floods struck southwestern Utah. The group of four men and three women from California and Nevada picked up their permit to go through the canyon about 7:30 a.m. on Monday, despite rangers’ warnings that the flash flood danger was “probable,” said park spokeswoman Aly Baltrus.
“Some members of the group took a basic canyoneering course Monday morning before the group made its way into Keyhole Canyon — one of Zion’s shorter technical canyons, Baltrus said. The route typically takes canyoneers about two hours, though advanced canyoneers have been known to complete the canyon in just 30 minutes, Baltrus said.
“On Monday afternoon, a group of three canyoneers passed the victims at the first rappel, Baltrus said. As the group of three emerged from the canyon a short time later, heavy rains began to fall. “They knew they were way ahead of the other group,” Baltrus said. “They got out and notified [rangers] there was a group of seven possibly in there.” Rangers later found the group’s unoccupied vehicles and began searching Tuesday morning….
“Monday’s storm and resultant flash flooding is believed to be Utah’s deadliest weather event. In addition to the deaths in Zion, 12 people were killed in nearby Hildale after Monday’s floods swept away two cars occupied by women and children. A child who was in one of the cars was missing Tuesday night….
“The watershed for Keyhole Canyon is 1.5 square miles — small for the slot canyons of southern Utah, Baltrus said. That means flash flooding likely occurred very soon after Monday afternoon’s downpours. In less than an hour Monday, 0.62 of an inch fell in Zion, Baltrus said. In one of the park’s tributaries of the Virgin River, flows of 50 cubic feet per second swelled to more than 2,000 cubic feet per second in just 15 minutes, Baltrus said.
“In Zion’s canyons, those high waters have proved deadly time and again. In 2001, a flash flood washed away a 10-year-old boy on the Canyon Overlook trail. Two hikers were killed in a flash flood while they were exploring the Narrows in July 1998. In 1993, two adult leaders of a group of LDS Explorer Scouts from Salt Lake City died in a flash flood in Kolob Canyon. And in September 1961, four Boy Scouts and their leader were killed in a flash flood in September 1961 in the Virgin River Narrows. Outside of Zion, a California husband and wife were killed on Sept. 11, 2008, when a torrent of water overtook them in the Egypt 3 slot canyon in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.” (Salt Lake Tribune (Erin Alberty). “Park officials: 4 dead, 3 missing after flash flood in Zion’s Keyhole Canyon.” 9-15-2015.)
Sep 16, CNN: “….In Zion National Park’s Keyhole Canyon, four people who were canyoneering were killed and three are missing, National Park Service officials said….
“The flooding ravaged an area that straddles the border from Hildale to Colorado City, Arizona.
“The flash flood started with heavy rains in the canyons above Hildale, the assistant fire chief said….
“On Monday [Sep 14], authorities found the vehicles of the seven people canyoneering in the narrow Keyhole Canyon but the party was never found. Tuesday’s search was hindered by high water and continuing rain before being called off during the evening due to flash flood warnings and weather conditions, said Jin Prugsawan, a spokesman for the National Park Service….
“CNN affiliate KSTU of Salt Lake City reported that four men and three women were in the group. Spokeswoman Aly Baltrus said they were between 40 and 50 years old and were from California or Nevada. Four bodies were recovered….” (CNN (Martinez, Martinez, Mossburg and Yan). “Floods in Utah kill 16, leave four missing.” 9-16-2015.)
Sep 16, AP: “Hildale, Utah (AP)…. Authorities say searchers have found the body of a fifth hiker killed in flash flooding that swept through a narrow canyon at Utah’s Zion National Park. Park spokeswoman Aly Baltrus said Wednesday that crews found the body downstream of Keyhole Canyon. The bodies of three men and one woman were found Tuesday, and searchers are still looking for two others. The group of seven people in their 40s and 50s from California and Nevada set out Monday, before park officials closed canyons due to flooding.
“….the group was told Monday morning that flash-flood danger was probable, a warning that rangers give almost every day during monsoon season….” (AP. “The Latest: Searchers find 5th body of hiker killed by flash flooding in Zion National Park.” U.S. News & World Report. 9-16-2015.)
Sep 17, AP: “Hildale, Utah…. Authorities say searchers have found the last body of seven hikers killed in flash flooding that swept through a narrow canyon at Utah’s Zion National Park. Washington County sheriff’s Detective Nate Abbott confirmed the death Thursday as crews dropped into Keyhole Canyon. The bodies of three men and one woman were found Tuesday, and two other bodies were found Wednesday….” Associated Press. “The Latest: Searchers find 7th Body After Park Flooding.” 9-17-2015.)
Sep 18, AP/ABC News: “Zion National Park late Thursday identified the seven hikers killed in a flash flood this week, hours after rescuers traversed a 100-foot drop into a rugged area to find the last of the victims….The park listed the California fatalities as Mark MacKenzie, 56, of Valencia; Linda Arthur, 57, and Steve Authur, 58, both of Camarillo; Gary Favela, 51, of Rancho Cucamonga; Muku Reynolds, 59, of Chino; and Robin Brum, 53, of Camarillo. The seventh flooding victim was Don Teichner, 55, of Mesquite, Nevada….” (Associated Press. “Zion Park Releases Names of 7 Killed in Flash Flooding.” ABC News, 9-18-2015.)
Mohave County, Arizona
Sep 18, AP/ABC News: “….Authorities in Mohave County, Arizona, said Thursday they were searching for a 33-year-old man from the area who has been missing since the flash floods hit Monday. Ryan Mertlich’s car was discovered heavily damaged in a flood plain about 15 miles west of Colorado City. Mertlich’s family reported him missing Tuesday, saying he typically drives the back roads in the area, said Mohave County sheriff’s spokeswoman Trish Carter.” (AP. “Zion Park Releases Names of 7 Killed in Flash Flooding.” ABC News, 9-18-2015.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Another Body Found in Utah/Arizona Flooding.” KOLO8 TV, Reno, NV, 9-17-2015. Accessed 9-17-2015: http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Death-Toll-Rises-in-UahArizona-Flooding-327879711.html
Associated Press. “The Latest: Searchers find 7th Body After Park Flooding.” ABC News, 9-17-2015. Accessed 9-17-2015: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-town-hit-utah-flooding-warned-boil-water-33833205
Associated Press. “The Latest: Searchers find 5th body of hiker killed by flash flooding in Zion National Park.” U.S. News & World Report. 9-16-2015. Accessed 9-16-2015 at: http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/09/16/the-latest-park-officials-to-speak-about-deadly-utah-floods
Associated Press. “Zion Park Releases Names of 7 Killed in Flash Flooding.” ABC News, 9-18-2015. Accessed 9-18-2015: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/zion-national-park-floods-trapped-people-narrow-canyon-33823229
CNN (Martinez, Martinez, Cheri Mossburg and Holly Yan). “Floods in Utah kill 16, leave four missing.” 9-16-2015. Accessed 9-16-2015: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/15/us/utah-arizona-flooding/
Fox 13 (Ben Winslow), Salt Lake City. “After floods kill 13 in Hildale, FLDS evictions halted.” 9-21-2015. Accessed 9-22-2015 at: http://fox13now.com/2015/09/21/after-floods-kill-13-in-hildale-flds-evictions-halted/
Fox 13 (Ashton Edwards and Todd Tanner), Salt Lake City. “Father of missing Hurricane man [community in Mojave Co., AZ] who was found dead after flash floods speaks to Fox 13.” 9-18-2015. Accessed 9-18-2015: http://fox13now.com/2015/09/18/missing-hurricane-man-found-dead-days-after-car-found-heavily-damaged-in-flash-floods/
JustSayNews.com. “Search Continues For Boy in Flash Flooding.” 9-23-2015. Accessed 9-23-2015 at: http://justsaynews.com/search-continues-for-boy-in-flash-flooding/
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Kimber Laux). “Search for Utah boy missing after flood suspended.” 9-30-2015. Accessed 10-1-2015: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada-and-west/search-utah-boy-missing-after-flood-suspended
Salt Lake Tribune (Erin Alberty). “Another Utah flood victim found; search continues for boy as Zion families speak.” 9-18-2015. Accessed 9-19-2015 at: http://www.sltrib.com/home/2965633-155/another-utah-flood-victim-found-search
Salt Lake Tribune (Erin Alberty). “Park officials: 4 dead, 3 missing after flash flood in Zion’s Keyhole Canyon.” 9-15-2015. Accessed 9-16-2015: http://www.sltrib.com/home/2953891-155/park-officials-2-dead-5-missing
[1] Twenty bodies recovered. Six year-old Tyson Black went missing from Hildale vehicle on Sep 14. As of Sep 30 search was suspended – presumed killed.
[2] Reflects “at least 12 people dead” in the Hildale Community [one person missing], and seven from Zion Nat. Park.
[3] Fox 13, Salt Lake City (Ashton Edwards and Todd Tanner). “Father of missing Hurricane man [community in Mojave Co., AZ] who was found dead after flash floods speaks to Fox 13.” 9-18-2015. Article notes body of victim was found six miles west from where his vehicle was found.
[4] Fox 13 (Ben Winslow), Salt Lake City. “After floods kill 13 in Hildale, FLDS evictions halted.” 9-21-2015. The number of 13 victims must also include a mixing 6-year-old who was with the victims in the two cars in Hildale.
[5] Missing boy identified as 6-year-old Tyson Lucas Black. Salt Lake Tribune (Erin Alberty). “Another Utah flood victim found; search continues for boy as Zion families speak.” 9-18-2015.