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Hildale • Nine people had died and four remained missing Tuesday morning, the day after an SUV and a van were washed off a road during a flash flood in this polygamous Utah-Arizona border community.

The ninth body was recovered at about noon on Tuesday, Hildale Mayor Phillip Barlow said at a news conference.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the eighth victim's body had been recovered below the Central Street crossing hours earlier. Search and Rescue workers were to return in force at dawn in hopes of finding those still missing. State officials have authorized the use of the National Guard to help in the search.

The two vehicles involved were occupied by families — 16 people in all — who had gone to watch the floods near Canyon Street and Williams Avenue about 5 p.m., when "a large wall of water and debris" surprised them and swept them away in the flood.

Barlow called the incident a "100-year flood," saying it is a tragic "wakeup call for the community, that this is real."

Three of the 16 people in the vehicles made it out of the water. Those who died and are missing include young children, one as young as 4, and their mothers. The victims appear to be from multiple families.

Heat, lightning and flash floods are the most common causes of weather-related deaths in Utah and the Hildale flooding could be the most deadly in the state's history, Brian McInerney, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service said.

On Tuesday, private contractors with heavy equipment moved into the flood area to clear away thousands of tons of mud and debris from the Central Street creek crossing area. Utah Red Cross volunteers also were on the scene, offering aid to families and rescue workers alike.

Gov. Gary Herbert promised all possible state resources would be offered to help the rescue and recovery efforts.

"I am heartbroken to hear of the recent tragedy in Washington County. The State of Utah has offered its full resources to the town of Hildale," he stated Tuesday. "The Governor's Office and the Department of Public Safety are in close communication with local government and public safety officials in the affected area."

The governor added in a personal aside: "Jeanette and I express our sincere condolences to the family of the victims during this difficult time. I offer my thanks to first responders, volunteers and other officials involved in the recovery effort."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he and his wife, Elaine, also were praying for "the victims of the Hilldale flooding and their families, and . . . emergency responders as they continue to search for those missing."

Hatch added that he was in contact with local officials " to offer my support, and I'm certain this tragedy will be met with courage and resilience by the citizens in the communities affected."

Rain continued, intermittently, and all crossings of the creek remained closed. More showers moved toward the region on Tuesday, prompting a Flash Flood Warning through mid-afternoon.

One of the three survivors remained at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George on Tuesday. Of the dead located thus far, six were found in the water on the Utah side of the border, while two were found downstream in Arizona, more than 2 miles away, the Washington County Sheriff's Office reported.

Search efforts on Tuesday were painstakingly slow, with crews having to dig through miles of thick mud and debris in their search for the missing.

The National Weather Service estimated 1 to 2 inches fell near Hildale late Monday. Many streets were covered with mud, sand, boulders and other debris.

Andrew Chatwin, a Hildale resident, said the community was devastated by the fatalities.

"It leaves your heart hurting," he said. "I'm just trying to soak it all in."

Hildale sits against Canaan Mountain, and the area is prone to flooding. Signs around the usually dry wash that runs through Hildale and adjacent Colorado City, Ariz., warn motorists to watch for flash floods.

Hildale and Colorado City are collectively known as Short Creek. They are home to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which practices polygamy. Employees of the towns' governments and public safety services over the years have been loyal to the church, though the sheriff offices on both sides of the state line often lead search and rescue efforts.

— Reporters Pamela Manson and Erin Alberty contributed to this coverage. Gov. Herbert's statement:

"I am heartbroken to hear of the recent tragedy in Washington County. The State of Utah has offered its full resources to the town of Hildale to aid with the search and rescue effort. The Governor's Office and the Department of Public Safety are in close communication with local government and public safety officials in the affected area. Jeanette and I express our sincere condolences to the family of the victims during this difficult time. I offer my thanks to first responders, volunteers and other officials involved in the recovery effort." Gov. Herbert's statement:

"I am heartbroken to hear of the recent tragedy in Washington County. The State of Utah has offered its full resources to the town of Hildale to aid with the search and rescue effort. The Governor's Office and the Department of Public Safety are in close communication with local government and public safety officials in the affected area. Jeanette and I express our sincere condolences to the family of the victims during this difficult time. I offer my thanks to first responders, volunteers and other officials involved in the recovery effort."