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PAYSON — An expanded search team using divers, chainsaws and a drone was scouring a 2½-mile area along Ellison Creek on Tuesday in hopes of finding the missing man whose extended family was trapped in a flash flood at a swimming hole.
The bodies of nine family members were recovered Saturday and Sunday, but Hector Miguel Garnica, 27, remained missing.
A 16-person state Type 3 Incident Management Team with professionals from fire, medical and law enforcement was leading the search, under the direction of Pruett Small.
The team took over the search at 6 p.m. Monday at Gila County Sheriff Adam Shepard’s request. The sheriff sought additional resources from the state as the rescue effort entered its fourth day.
Small said a search team with about 75 members out of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management will search area. The group was split into three divisions.
Small said he expected the search of the area could last three to four days. If it is unsuccessful, the search area could be expanded, he said.
MORE: How many have died in Arizona flash floods? More than you’d think
Operations Section Chief Cougan Carothers of the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority said most of the search effort is focused upstream near the Water Wheel turnoff, where K-9 units have alerted teams to some deep pools of water and debris piles.
Carothers said dive teams will search underwater while “Type 2 Hand Crew” firefighters cut through the larger debris piles with chainsaws. Volunteer search and rescue groups from surrounding counties also were assisting.
Though most of the search effort was focused upstream, Carothers said a volunteer with a drone will scan the lower area.
He also stressed the need to protect searchers from harm. Teams set up “repeaters” throughout the area to boost radio signals to improve radio quality.
Lookouts whose sole job was to monitor weather and water levels and someone from the National Weather Service was updating the team every half hour.
READ: ‘They had no warning’: 9 dead in Payson flash flood, 1 still missing
On Saturday afternoon, as more than 100 people enjoyed a hot summer day at the Cold Springs swimming hole in the forest north of Payson, a thunderstorm began to pour rain nearby. That water raced downstream and built into a wall of water that swept away family members.
Killed were:
- Maria Raya-Garcia, 27, and her children:
- Emily Garnica, 3.
- Mia Garnica, 5.
- Danial Garnica, 7.
- Maribel Raya-Garcia, 24, Maria Raya’s sister, along with her daughter:
- Erica Raya-Garcia, 2.
- Javier Raya-Garcia, 19, brother of Maria and Maribel.
- Selia Garcia Castenada, 57, the mother of Maria, Maribel and Javier.
- Jonathan Leon, 13, Selia Garcia’s grandson.
Hector Miguel Garnica was Maria Raya-Garcia’s husband.
Authorities say they have found nine bodies and are only looking for one more person among a group who got swept up in a furious flash flood in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. (July 17)
AP
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Sgt. David Hornung of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office gives an update on the search for a missing person on July 17, 2017, following a recent flash flood in Payson. David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com
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Tom Price, a friend of the family that was washed away by a flash flood north of Payson on Saturday, July 15, 2017, has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses. Nine members are confirmed dead. One is missing. Tom Tingle/azcentral.com
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Sgt. David Hornung of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office gives an update on the search for a missing person following a recent flash flood. David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com
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Family members Carla and Iris Garnica discuss missing flash-flood victim Hector Miguel Garnica. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
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Carla Garnica, 22, describes the search for her family members, at least 9 of whom were killed in the flash flood.
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Search and rescue teams who were already in the area helped save people caught in Saturday’s flash floods in Arizona. Nearby residents say some who visit the area may not be aware that the weather can quickly turn into dangerous conditions. (July 17)
AP
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A rural fire chief says at least four people were found dead and about a dozen more are missing after flash flooding poured over a popular swimming area inside the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona. (July 16)
AP
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22-year-old Carla Garnica’s brother Miguel, 27, is still missing. Nine of their family members were killed in the flood. Video courtesy of Telemundo Arizona
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Officials search for drowning victims following a flash flood at a popular swimming hole north of Payson that at least killed nine people from a Phoenix family.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic
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Several children died in the flash flood.
Yihyun Jeong/The Republic
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This video of a flash flood in the Water Wheel area outside of Payson was posted June 15 by YouTube user David Cole.
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9 dead, 1 still missing in Arizona flash flood
Search continues for flash-flood victim
Friend sets up GoFundMe page for flash-flood victims
Search continues for missing man after flash flood near Payson
Family of Payson flood victims talk
Family members of Payson flash flood victims describe incident
Crews describe rescue from Arizona flash floods
Raw: Deadly flash floods hit Ariz. swimming hole
Sister of man missing in Arizona flash flood talks on the search
Deadly flash flood kills at least 9 near Payson
Sgt. David Hornung talks about responding to the Payson tragedy
Flash flooding at Water Wheel
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