From Deseret News archives:

Flooding hits Utah: Areas that were hurt by wildfire now hit by rain

Published: Friday, July 27, 2007 12:24 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
OAK CITY, Millard County — In a torrent of rain, they stacked sandbags.

People trampled an elderly woman's flowerbeds, trying to save her home as a moat of muddy water formed around the property. Trucks pulled up with pallets of sandbags and men threw them to each other, fortifying the driveway from the fast-moving floodwaters.

"Everybody helps everybody here," Kevin Anderson said Thursday night as he walked over a muddy lawn to inspect the backyard for flood damage.

The woman wasn't even there to appreciate the hard work. She was with her husband, who neighbors said was in a care center after suffering a stroke.

Massive thunderstorms moving across Utah have triggered severe flooding. Authorities say areas already devastated by wildfires are now being hit by rain, sending water and mud down canyons and hillsides and into homes.

Flooding has also been reported in Salt Lake County, the Sanpete County town of Fountain Green, where a wildfire is still burning, and in Grantsville, where rains helped firefighters get control of another blaze.

More thunderstorms are expected today.

Story continues below
Here, flooding hit for a second straight day, destroying a newly paved bridge and sending about two feet of mud and water oozing into homes.

Photo gallery

"It was terrifying," Karla Dutson said as she stood outside her flooded basement Thursday.

She was in the doorway of her children's room when the windows shattered. Several feet of mud and water destroyed everything.

"It ran through the house for about a half-hour," said her husband, Craig Dutson. "There was nothing you could do."

In Oak Creek Canyon, floodwaters stranded about 30 recreationists. Rock and mud about three feet deep covered the road.

On Thursday, authorities were able to clear the road long enough to get people out. The canyon is now closed.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning News

Volunteers pile sandbags to contain flooding in Oak City, Millard County, a year after wildfires hit the surrounding area.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

looks like a leader of the looney leftist movement in America. It appears...

Blind woman follows the Son

Give me a break!

What about Parker Ericson... Shout out from hunter fan. Ya u heard me....

Know any RMs playing in Division I college football? I know of a few down...

BYU 24, New Mexico 19

The game was UGLY. Kind of like the Utah New Mexico game last year, or the...

Was a liar. He manipulated his way out of his contract to return to LA. His...

Grizzlies, Iverson part ways

I really believe the Iverson cared more about playing for a competitor than...

Higher salary for Ogden mayor?

that because Godfrey is a poor mayor that it's because of the salary he is...

Boo Hoo Hoo!!!

you kinda condradicted yourself by saying the community is with the coaches...

Advertisements
Advertisement