Comments about ‘Flood aftermath: Little Cottonwood residents dig out, dry off, demand answers’

Why is it the Counties responsibility to protect the backyards of people who build in a flood zone?
I am originally from Los Angeles and people would build huge beautiful homes on unstable ground that eventually falls off the cliff. The homeowners would petition the State/County etc. and the homeowners apparently would be reimbersed for their loss.
I don't think that is right. If you bulid on a cliff you should expect a loss when your house falls off the cliff. The same with building next to the creek. If it floods it is sad but why is it my resposibility to save or repair your home?
I think the question is fair.

How does that song go, again? Oh, yes...:
"The wise man built his house upon the rock. The wise man built his house upon the rock." And then there was something about a foolish man, but it escapes me. Anyway, where were we? Something about fault and blame, was it?

I agree with Martin. There is no reason the county should foot this bill. While I am sorry for the ordeal these people have gone through, I don't see why the county is responsible for reimbursing them. You build next to a stream, you know there is risk with flooding. You build next to a volcano, you might get burne enjoy their unscathed multi-million dollar home.

Let the buyer beware. I would not buy a home on a lake or river, unless I knew it was well above the 500 year flood plain. I don't think the public should pay. You toss the dice, you take a chance, but in the end, let the buyer beware.

I watch year after year people losing their homes to hurricanes because they built next to the ocean. Year after year they get help to rebuild so they can continue to enjoy their wonderful oceanfront view and beach. I'd love to live on a beach or have a beautiful tinkling creek in my back yard, but can't afford it. Why should MY tax money help someone else to live there? If you want those luxuries, pay for it yourself!

"Goodson admits it's foolish to build on the creek where natural disasters are inevitable." Even the homeowners are aware of the risks they took to build where they did, making it pretty weird they now think the County should foot the bill to help them rebuild in the same location.

DesNews - it would have been informative for you to write something concerning what responsibility the County legally has in this circumstance to pay for damage done by the creek that is their to monitor and maintain.

While I agree in general with both previous comments, I do have some additional information not seen in the article. I live in the neighborhood but not on the creek thank heavens. Over the past 4 years flood control for the County and Sandy Public Utilities have both spent well over 2 million dollars in "flood Control" construction in the creek just upstream from where these events took place. After seeing that the diversions they built simply acted as debris dams at critical moments actually changing the course of the flow of water, it became fairly clear that the engineering of these structures had been inadequate for that amount of water. When tax dollars are used for flood control and they don’t work isn’t it reasonable to put some of the financial responsibility on those agencies that actually contributed to the problem? We'll have to see what their "non-partisan" study says in the end. I am skeptical and do believe in this case there was cause for some financial damages on the County and Sandy City's part.

No way should the County have to reimburse these folks. I don't know why the DNews prints an article about a few rich homeowners who are whining.

I agree. I live up on the hills in Bountiful and I'd seismological activity causes my house to slide or shift or crack, I count it as a risk I knew I took on when I moved here. I will not count on anyone else to rescue me, especially with potentially dozens of neighbors with the same problems. Don't count on the government to solve your problems, be prepared yourself; buy insurance, save up money, bring your home or yard up to standards and/or reinforce it, but don't complain and wait for a handout because it was an unexpeced expense.

In the spring of 1982 the basement my grandparents home in Bountiful was filled completely with water from an overflowing stream. Their backyard was entirely covered in 3 feet of rock and mud. It took them years to recover and their yard never was the same.

This otherwise beautiful little stream became a roaring river one night. Nature will have it's way. Government and the resources it has can only do so much. The county should not have to pay for this.

Martin and beuhman have said it. The only thing to be added is that when a governmental entity has to save or rebuild someone's home because nature did what it does, the people that are really paying for it are the ones that pay their fair share of taxes.
Not the few that who can pay tax attorney's to significantly decease their taxes.

Not the tax payers problem. You are the ones that moved next to a stream. Streams overflow. That one has been doing it for years. You should have done your research before building/moving.

There are inherent risks to building near a creek...its called flooding. That's why I don't live near a creek nor its kissing cousin, the babbling brook. I'm from Sacramento....I've seen the damage caused when small brooks and creeks overflow their banks and create the 'flood' in the 'flood plain'. I don't understand why people believe others should pay for damages caused by their personal decision to build in a flood zone. There has been a recession which would explain the shortage of available help. Are these homeowners willing to fund the payroll for additional workers 'just in case' there is a flood in their neighborhood?

They demand answers. What kind of fools are these people. It was spring runoff. It happens every year. Sometime a lot, sometimes not so little. I suggest they move somewhere a little drier than a river bed.

People have been trained by our trip into socialism to believe every problem in life is someone elses fault. You just cant legislate for stupidy. Only our government has trained people do do such a thing as buy a house in an area that only an idiot would buy in were it not for our government stealing our tax dollars for such stupidity... Suck it up and pay your own bills. I and many like me are fed up with it....

Are you kidding me with this picture? Here we are in front of our huge house looking for a Government Handout!

Let me help these poor folks.

If you live near the following bad things will happen:

Creek and rivers will flood.
Refineries will explode.
Walmarts will be crowded and have traffic.
Farms will have animal smells.

There are people out of work right now and desperate to support their families and these people worry about their precious yard they built too close to a creek. I am playing the world's smallest violin.

Ditto above. Also, how dangerously were the Worlds driving with their family if they made a 4-hour trip in 2 hours? Sounds like they were endangering the lives of others, and themselves, in the process of getting home. I'd also like to know if these are pro-taxes or anti-tax folks, as they seem to want government assistance now that something has happened.

I agree with both prior posts.

I'm glad the family was safe and their house is still standing. I would have helped sandbag if I physically could have, but I couldn't. However, when you build along a creek, and you know the melting snow run-off comes down that creek, shouldn't you prepare your property for flooding at anytime? I also believe in helping your neighbor, but not financially with my tax dollars. You get the beautiful view and nature in your yard but that comes with possible flooding. Spend your money or your insurance money and get it fixed properly so it won't happen again. Sorry.