Campers Evacuated After Being Trapped by Floodwaters at Oak Creek Canyon

Floodwaters Trap Campers in Oak Creek Canyon: Most Evacuated Safely

In a dramatic turn of events, the majority of campers stranded by rising floodwaters in Oak Creek Canyon have successfully vacated the area. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that as water levels diminished, campers began leaving Cave Springs Campground on Wednesday morning.

Approximately 65 individuals, including camp hosts, found themselves caught in the flood for four days. This situation was caused by heavy rains that swelled Oak Creek, rendering low water crossings impassable.

According to a statement released by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday, all campers were anticipated to leave the campground by the end of the day. To aid the evacuation, the U.S. Forest Service deployed crews to clear debris such as logs, stumps, and boulders from the roads, which had been left behind by the floodwaters.

The campers were initially stranded on Sunday when the creek’s water levels surged unexpectedly high. While Oak Creek is known for swelling during rain, county officials noted that it is uncommon for the water to remain elevated for such an extended period.

In response to the crisis, an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter delivered two days’ worth of food supplies to the trapped campers on Tuesday. Officials clarified that this resupply effort was primarily a precautionary measure.

The National Weather Service reported that the Oak Creek watershed received nearly 4.5 inches of rain since Saturday. On Tuesday morning, the creek’s flow peaked at over 2,500 cubic feet per second, which is about five times the normal rate.

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