A 29-year-old exploring the Grand Canyon died after an unexpected flash flood Thursday night when threats of "excessive rain" and flooding swept through Arizona and the eastern United States.
Rebecca Copeland, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, was camping with a commercial rafting group on the banks of the Colorado River when devastating flooding washed away her camp.
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Authorities evacuated five injured campers from the canyon by air, including one in critical condition, according to a declaration from Grand Canyon National Park officials.
National Park Service Spokesperson Kaitlyn Thomas told AP News the wounded were "very badly beaten by rubble."
A rafting group found Copeland's body Friday morning, along with another missing camper who was not injured in the flooding.
The National Park Service announced that they were investigating the flooding, which affected Camp Copeland about 40 downstream from the Arizona-Utah state line.
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It comes as northern Arizona was hit by a torrent of severe flooding that began Thursday night, with many residents witnessing the rain pouring down city streets and local courtyards.
The National Weather Service issued broad warnings after "torrential rains" engulfed a state highway about 70 miles south of Flagstaff.
Pictures taken on Wednesday in Tucson shows the moment when firefighters rescued a father and his two young daughters from the roof of their truck as it plunged into floodwaters that had flooded a highway.
Golder Ranch Fire District Capt.Adam Jarrold said Tucson.com: "Our message, telling everyone, be patient, especially here in the desert. The water rises fast, but it also goes fast."
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The NWS also issued a dust advisory on the southwest side of Phoenix, where winds in excess of 40 mph formed a wall of dust, reducing visibility to less than a quarter of a mile on several interstate highways.
The City of Flagstaff reported that part of its rail system was severely damaged after the flood.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an emergency declaration Friday for Coconino County, allocating $ 200,000 for emergency response.
"The severe flooding following the wildfires is creating dangerous challenges for communities in northern Arizona," Ducey said of his emergency declaration.
"The floods are causing road closures, damaging property and putting Arizonans' safety at risk."
Copeland tragically died when floods hit the Grand Canyon after graduating this year with two master's degrees in public health and public policy.
She was named a David A. Winston Health Policy Scholar for her work on improving health policy.
"Professionally, she was very astute and willing to tackle the complicated problems we face in our health care system," said David Hutton, a Copeland professor at UM.
"Personally, it was a bright light and it was a pleasure to be around. We will miss her so much."
