Crews were waiting for floodwaters to recede so they can begin restoring washed-out trails andfootbridges to a remote village near the Grand Canyon hit by flooding, authorities said.
Some evacuated residents of the American Indian village of Supai were allowed to returnTuesday. Authorities planned to fly them in by helicopter after creeks overflowing with runoff fromsevere thunderstorms washed away trails during the weekend.
Coconino County Emergency Manger Sherrie Collins said crews shipped horse feed to Supai forlivestock, and they'll likely follow up later in the week with meals that were donated in nearbyPeach Springs.
"They'd like to have them for storage," Collins said. "Things are pretty fragile down there.The infrastructure is all intact, but if they have another flood, it may not hold a second time."
Supai is located near the bottom of the canyon in an area west of Grand Canyon National Parkheadquarters. It's an eight-mile hike from the nearest parking lot, dropping straight down on awinding canyon trail.
About 400 people live there year-round. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said after touring thearea by air Monday that the most important task was to restore a pack trail that is a main path fordelivering mail, food and other supplies.
Rescue crews on Monday tracked down 11 hikers from two families that were the last remainingtourists unaccounted for, said Coconino County Sheriff's Department spokesman Gerry Blair.
Authorities are still getting calls from people who believe their loved ones may be in thecanyon, Blair said. But everyone who followed the rules and signed in at the bottom of the trailinto the remote area has been evacuated.
"The only other possibility that exists is someone who went down there who didn't sign up,"Blair said Tuesday.
Crews checked the hiking trails and surrounding gorges by helicopter and foot again Tuesdayand will do a more comprehensive ground search when the flood waters recede in a few days, Blairsaid.
"It's just very dangerous right now," Blair said.
Thunderstorms dumped 3 to 6 inches of rain on the entire region Friday and Saturday and about2 inches more on Sunday. The storms sent a rush of water through parts of the canyon.
Supai sits in a region popular with hikers and river runners, with towering blue-greenwaterfalls.
