2008 Flash Flood Update
The Havasupai Reservation experienced severe floodings on August 15-17, 2008. The floods caused damages and destruction of trails, campgrounds and recreation areas in Supai Canyon.
The Havasupai Tribal Council, the governing body of the Havasupai Tribe officially declared a State of Emergency on the Havasupai Reservation.
The Havasupai Tribal Council closed Supai Village and the surrounding areas to visitors until May 31, 2009 where partial recovery efforts allow the Reservation to receive visitors. Repair and rehabilitation works will continue throughout 2009.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs Truxton Canon Agency (BIA TCA) completed the preliminary flood damage assessment on August 31, 2010 and presented it to the Havasupai Tribal Council on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. The BIA preliminary estimate to clean, repair and rehab the Havasu Canyon is approximately $2.5M.
Governor Janet Napolitano declared a State of Emergency on the Havasupai Reservation and requested the President to declare a State of Emergency on the Havasupai Reservation.
.The Havasupai Tribal Council approved the BIA Flood Assessment Report. Further information on the BIA TCA damage assessment report, please contact:
James Williams
Superintendent
BIA Truxton Canon Agency
P O Box 37
Valentine, Arizona 86037
Tel: 928 769 2286 Fax: 928 769 2444
Email: james.williams@bia.gov
Reconnaisance assessments were also conducted and presented to the Havasupai Tribal Council by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (US ACOE) and the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS).
The Havasupai Tribe depends primarily on tourism revenues to operate its government and provide services to its Tribal members. The Havasupai Tribal members also depend on tourismdollars for income. The Havasupai Tribal Government is the primary employer on the Supai Reservation.The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service provide limited employment opportunities for the Havasupai Tribal members. Havasupai Tribal members employed and engaged in the tourism business experienced loss of income due to the closure of Havasu Canyon.
Immediately after the flood, the Havasupai Tribe received approximately $350,000 from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to assist with recovery work. On October 06, 2008, the Governor of Arizona declared a State of Emergency on the Havasupai Reservation. On October 24, 2008, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated approximately $1,000,000 to the Havasupai Tribe to assist with clean up, recovery, repair and, rehabilitation work in Havasu Canyon. On February 9, 2009, the Tribe received $450,000 grant from the U. S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to assist with the recovery project. In addition, the Tribe is allowed to use its $605,000 2007 ICDBG fund for the recovery project. The Tribe also received a $60,000 grant from the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT).
The Havasupai Tribe received donations and technical assistance from the following organizations:
1. Airwest Helicopters
2. American Automobile Association (AAA) - AOT Grant Cost Share
3. American Indian Program at Scottsdale Community College
4. Arizona Outback Adventures
5. Catherine Larned
6. Coconino National Forest - Peaks Ranger District
7. Dick McCallun & Friends
8. Flagstaff Havasupai Flood Relief
9. Fort McDowell Yavapai-Apache Nation
10. Gila River Indian Community
11. Grand Canyon Resort Corporation
12. Helping Hands Thrift Store
13. Hip Mama Group from Flagstaff, Arizona
14. Hualapai Nation
15. Jessie Torres
16. Junita Wescogame, Co-Workers and Friends
17. Just Roughin It Adventures Company
18. Lehi Boys and Girls Club
19. Miss Hopi Pageant Committee
20. Morongo Band of Mission Indians
21. Multi Cultural Students Association - Arizona State University: The donations were brought down into Supai by the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs
22. National Relief Charities
23. Pam Hale and Adrian Hendricks & Friends
24. Red Mountain Boys and Girls Club
25. Red Rock Foundation
26. Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
27. St. Mary's Food Bank
28. The Grand Canyon River Guides Association
29. The Grand Canyon Helicopter (Pappillon)
30. Wade Large & Friends
31. Yavapai-Apache Nation
32. Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe
The Havasupai Tribal Council wish to thank all the people and organizations that have provided assistance, onetary donations and supplies during the emergency and closure of Havasu Canyon. Although the Havasupai Tribe received federal and state funding to clean,repair and rehabilitate the Havasu Canyon, these funds cannot be used to financially assist Havasupai Tribal members and others who lost their incomes due to the closure of Havasu Canyon.
CURRENT STATUS:
THE HAVASUPAI TRIBE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2.5M WITH LESS THAN 50.0% WORK COMPLETED. HIGH COSTS DUE TO THE REMOTENESS OF THE LOCATION AND LACK OF FUNDING PROHIBITS THE TRIBE FROM IMPLEMENTING FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS, DEVELOPING A PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION WORK SUCH AS EARLY AND FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM AND DEVELOPING EVACUATION ROUTES.