Arizona Congressman Describes Surviving Grand Canyon Flash Flood

Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., said he heard what sounded like "a freight train smashing into a boulder" as a flash flood tore through the Grand Canyon near his rafting group on Saturday.

Schweikert told NBC News from his Washington office on Tuesday that the crash was followed by a powerful surge of mud and debris-filled water. Two visitors died and another remains missing after the sudden deluge briefly transformed Bright Angel Creek into a full-fledged river. About 80 people were evacuated from campsites near the historic Phantom Ranch area of the park.

The retiring congressman and his group were about 100 yards from the danger zone with no cellphone service. His guide led them to higher ground near the Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek, and they later hiked out on foot, camping nearby for the night.

Schweikert said it is monsoon season in Arizona, but there was no more than a drizzle of rain where he was when the flood struck, underscoring how unpredictable such events can be.

"At some point, you realized this is a big deal; something's really gone haywire. ... It was a ginormous flash flood," he said.

He explained that the canyon's terrain can channel storms from miles away into narrow waterways. "The deluge downpour could have been miles away and was channeled into the canyon, and what used to be a creek now is a river," said Schweikert, a regular Grand Canyon hiker.

The flood also severely damaged the park's water supply system, including part of a $208 million pipeline project underway near Phantom Ranch. Schweikert said he expects to be involved in efforts to address the damage once assessments are complete, but added, "Right now, the heartbreak is a couple of people lost their lives."

He urged visitors to closely monitor weather conditions and avoid narrow slot canyons if storms are anywhere nearby, given the risk of becoming trapped.

"It's remarkable beauty, but you always take it seriously because the canyon will sneak up on you if you're not prepared," Schweikert said.