ST. GEORGE – Washington County Search and Rescue teams are pulling out of the Hildale area following two weeks of attempting to find the body of a 6-year-old boy, the last known victim of the fatal flooding that claimed the lives of 12 others.
Search efforts have gradually wound down since Sept. 20, when state-level resources and personnel began to return home to northern Utah. Among them were members of the National Guard who were mobilized by the governor.
Though state resources had pulled out, local, county and regional agencies continued the search in earnest for 6-year-old Tyson Black the following week, but to no avail. Now, two weeks after the flooding, the county is handing search efforts over to local search and rescue teams.
“The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has turned over the search to the local agencies, who will evaluate what steps to take in the future,” Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Shauna Jones said in a statement Tuesday. “We will continue to support their efforts when needed. So many of our volunteers and employees who assisted are saddened by the lack of success in locating six year old Tyson Black.”
During it’s daily Facebook updates on search operations in Hildale, Washington County Emergency Services officials posted the following:
Hildale search organizers plan to resume the search with dog teams either this weekend or the next. On-going search efforts will be coordinated with the Washington County Sheriff.
Yesterday, two county search and rescue teams, four dog teams and one mini-excavator worked in Section 16 and 17 in high probability areas where layers of debris and sand were deposited. In one area, a barbed wire fence had been completely buried. The creek has been searched multiple times with dog and ground teams, Commanders were surprised to learn that the flood had created a new channel, from 6 to 10 feet deep in a large portion of the creek where it had been flat before the storm.
We are grateful for everyone who has given of their time and resources to assist in the enormous search effort over the last two weeks.
Tyson, along with his mother Bella Black, his aunts Naomi and Josephine Jessop, and nine children, were killed after the vehicles they were in were swept away by flash flood waters following heavy rains on Sept. 14. Three boys, two of Tyson’s brothers and a cousin, survived the incident.
Following the devastating flooding, agencies from the local to federal level descended on the twin-communities of Hildale and Colorado City, Arizona, known as Short Creek to help with search and cleanup efforts. The following Saturday, Gov. Gary Herbert visited Hildale and met with the search and rescue teams and family of those who had died. He also toured the site where the fatal flooding had occurred.
“You never know what tomorrow will bring,” Herbert said, “so we have to live our lives today so we’re ready to meet our Maker tomorrow.”
The governor returned to Hildale once more, this time for a memorial service held Saturday remembering those who had been lost, as well as honoring those who had helped with search and recovery efforts.
See more: After the rain: Hundreds gather in remembrance of Hildale flood victims
In addition to those lost at Hildale, flash flooding also result in the deaths of seven canyoneers in Zion National Park, and at least one man found on the Arizona Strip, bring the total of those killed to 21.
Related posts
- After the rain: Hundreds gather in remembrance of Hildale flood victims
- Utah mourns with Hildale: Gov. Herbert meets with flood victims’ families
- Families reflect on loved ones lost to Zion flash flood
- Troubled waters in Short Creek after Hildale flood, families left without closure
- Search continues for 6-year-old boy in aftermath of Hildale flood
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