Families mopping up after flooding ruins homes

VIRGIN, Washington County — The lives of Luann and Mike Staples were turned upside down within the space of a few moments Wednesday when a summer thunderstorm drenched the mountains above the family's property, turning the placid creek into a raging torrent, throwing broken tree trunks against their home and those of their neighbors and dumping tons of mud and debris.

Residents were cleaning up Thursday after the flash flood. Of the six homes in the Staples subdivision, one was destroyed and the others were damaged to the extent that no one will be able to live there until cleanup and repairs are completed. A flash-flood watch remained in effect for all of southwest Utah until 10 p.m. on Thursday.

"I knew the water was coming," said Luann Staples. "I was on the Internet and saw a flash-flood warning. I looked outside and saw the stream rising and called the kids to get out."

Seven years ago, Luann and Mike Staples were thrilled to purchase 44 acres of sandy, red fertile soil with soaring cottonwood trees that line a barely wet creekbed. The enclave provided a quiet sanctuary for the Staples family, who enjoyed cool breezes and little traffic on the county roadway that leads to vacation cabins on Kolob Mountain.

"We were really excited about it, and we told our kids there was a lot for each of them if they wanted to build a home here," said Luann Staples Thursday as she gently rocked back and forth in a carved rocking chair, looking outside her living room at the remnants of her once beautifully landscaped side yard.

Five of the couple's six children took them up on their offer and wound up building homes next door to each other. Despite the proximity to the creek, none of the Staples children purchased flood insurance, although it had been discussed, said Luann Staples, who did purchase the insurance for her home.

The flash-flood warning Wednesday came just in time for the family to avoid any serious injuries. Two of Luann Staples' grandsons were caught off guard by the rushing floodwaters and were rescued by neighbors.

"They were feeding the pigs, and they literally had to climb a fence post to yell for help," she said, adding one of the boys was submerged briefly and came up spitting mud. "Someone threw them a garden hose so they could be pulled to safety."

Neighbors from the nearby towns of Virgin and LaVerkin rallied to help the Stapleses on Thursday. A steady stream of people arrived to help family members pull antiques and family heirlooms, children's toys and rolls of carpeting from the mud-caked homes. A red pickup truck was perched atop another car wedged between two trees, while other vehicles were covered in wide swatches of the now baked-on mud.