In cases of bad planning, there are several precautions city officials can take, Christensen said. A debris basin, essentially a small dam, is most effective for catching run-off above subdivisions. When that is not possible, a trench can be used to divert water away from homes. The trench at Buckley Draw channels water into an empty field.

Cities should require developers to build trenches or debris basins, Christensen said, and then assume the responsibility of maintaining, cleaning and inspecting them.

"The city has to be involved and take on that responsibility," he said. "It's not something you put in and forget about. It's a long-term commitment and a lot of cities are not aware of that."

Officials in Cedar Fort said the city's flooding problem can be solved with more storm drains, which should be built by next spring, according to Utah County Commissioner Steve White. For now, residents must muck out storm drains with shovels when it rains to keep them from clogging.

Unfortunately, some floods are so powerful there is little cities can do to stop them, said Brian McInerney, a National Weather Service hydrologist.

"I think the measures these towns are taking are very good, but I don't think you can really stop a heavy debris flow," he said. "You can slow smaller ones with debris fences, but a big one would just rip that out."

There aren't any severe thunderstorms on the horizon, McInerney said, but August and September are typically bad months in Utah for flash floods.

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E-mail: jhyde@desnews.com