Flash floods in southern Utah on Friday killed five family members hiking near Bicknell, Utah, and torrential rain on Saturday triggered flash flooding and travel disruption in New York City and New Jersey.
Five family members who had set out for a day of hiking were killed after a flash flood swept through canyons of southern Utah on Friday, the Wayne County sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The family arrived on Friday at Sunglow campground in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah, the sheriff’s office said.
"It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains," the sheriff’s office said in the news release, and deputies were called to the campground Friday night after the body of a young man was found in the flood wash; the bodies of the other family members were recovered later on Friday and Saturday.
Although the sheriff’s office did not identify the victims, the Provo Fire Department confirmed in a social media post that a fire captain, Spencer Long, and his family members were killed.
Officials with the fire department wrote, "We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time."
A GoFundMe site set up by a family friend identified Long; his wife, Katrina; and their sons Reid, Thayne and Gage as the victims and said a daughter who was not on the trip survived; Bree Nielson wrote on the page, "Spencer and Katrina were loving, devoted parents whose greatest joy was their family. They touched the lives of so many with their kindness, generosity, and unwavering love."
Katrina Long was the co-founder of a medical spa, and Summit Medical Spa posted on Facebook, "Our hearts are with all of their loved ones as we grieve the unimaginable loss of Katrina, her husband, and their three beautiful boys."
New York City and New Jersey were battered by torrential rain and thunderstorms on Saturday, triggering flash flooding and widespread disruption.
The downpour cascaded into subway stations and flooded city streets in parts of New York and the Tri-State area, which also includes Connecticut, while some drivers abandoned their vehicles in rising water.
Videos shared on social media showed people wading through knee-deep water, vehicles surrounded by water and multiple people being rescued by emergency services; a number of flights were disrupted on the eve of the World Cup final in New Jersey, and a Yankees-Dodgers baseball game in the Bronx was among several local sporting events to be rained off.
Severe weather threats continued across the U.S., and flash flooding killed at least eight people.
The GoFundMe page described the deaths as resulting from a "devastating flash flood Thursday evening," language that differs from the sheriff’s office account that placed the deaths on Friday.
The Provo Fire Department changed its Facebook profile photo to the agency badge marked with a black bar across the emblem to signal the death of a member.
The GoFundMe had raised more than $184,000 as of Monday to support the Longs' daughter, the fundraiser said.
Wayne County Sheriff Micah Gulley said multiple agencies assisted with the search, including Sevier County Search and Rescue, the Utah Highway Patrol and the helicopter crew from the Utah Department of Public Safety.