OVER 100 people have been rescued by helicopter after they got trapped by flash floods near the Grand Canyon – but one hiker remains missing.
Searchers have been unable to find Chenoa Nickerson, 33, who is believed to have been swept away during monsoons in Havasuapi Indian Reservation in Arizona.
Nickerson was hiking about a half-mile from the Colorado River when flooding trapped her in the most remote area in the country on Thursday morning, ABC affiliate KNXV reported.
The National Guard managed to evacuate 104 other tourists and tribal members from the Grand Canyon area but are still searching for the hiker.
“My heart is with all of the people impacted by the flooding in Havasupai, including Tribal members and visitors to the area. I am closely monitoring the situation and we have deployed the Arizona National Guard to get people to safety,” Governor Katie Hobbs after the evacutaion.
“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.”
Hobbs stated that the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs is coordinating with tribal, state, county, and federal agencies to help with evacuation efforts and to find Nickerson.
The Havasuapi Indian Reservation is one of the most desolate areas in the continental United States and is only accessible by mule, helicopter or foot, according to The Associated Press.
Nickerson’s sister Tamara Morales praised the efforts of the rescue crew for “navigating incredibly dangerous terrain with extremely limited methods of communication while leaving no stone unturned.”
“We are profoundly grateful for you and fully acknowledge that you are currently defying the impossible,” she posted on Facebook Saturday morning.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/12284103/grand-canyon-chenoa-nickerson-arizona/