Families in Hurricane, Utah, were still rebuilding from an August flood when muddy water came back. On Thursday, Oct. 22, flash flooding swept through the city for the second time in just 10 weeks. It forced evacuations, damaged roads and bridges, and affected approximately 80 homes and 50 recreational vehicles.
Early counts differ by source, and the damage is still being assessed. This article draws on reports from AccuWeather, The Salt Lake Tribune, KSL, St. George News, ABC4 and KUTV.
A Storm Over the Gould Wash Headwaters
A powerful storm near Apple Valley dumped up to two inches of rain in two hours. That sent a torrent down Gould Wash and into the city, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Alex DeSmet. AccuWeather described it as 1 to 2 inches of rain over the headwaters of Gould Wash, which sent a large flood wave downstream through Hurricane.
The rain didn’t have to fall on the city itself. Desert washes funnel runoff from higher ground very quickly. That is why neighborhoods can flood while the sky overhead looks fairly ordinary.
How Many Homes Were Hit
Early figures vary. City officials’ early assessment was that severe flooding damaged about 80 homes and 50 trailers at Willow Wind RV Park. KSL reported a larger number, saying floodwaters impacted 130 homes as Gould Wash overflowed its banks.
Part of the gap probably comes from different counting methods and from preliminary assessments. Jason Bradley, the county’s emergency services manager, said some of the homes sustained severe damage. Final totals may change as inspections continue.
Damage to Roads, Bridges and Utilities
The harm went beyond houses. Flooding, mud and debris also damaged roads, bridges, culverts and electrical boxes. Total costs remain unknown, city officials said in a release.
Public infrastructure damage is often slow to price out. Crews have to clear debris and inspect structures before anyone can estimate repair bills. Mayor Clark Fawcett declared a local emergency.
Families Who Had Just Finished Repairs
The timing was cruel for many households. Steve and Alayne Isom had finally finished $80,000 in repairs from the August flooding, and their home flooded again two days later. Alayne Isom said they had moved their piano and her daughter’s cedar chest back in about an hour before the second flood.
Others described the same whiplash. Juanita Puga said her home became livable again on Oct. 1. Three weeks later, she said, the damage was worse. Sheena Carter’s living room flooring was only a week old, and her new bedroom carpet had been installed less than 72 hours earlier.
Water Depths and Moments of Panic
Accounts from the scene describe how fast the water rose. One homeowner said she left for a quick errand of around five minutes. When she came back, the water was up to her hip or waistline.
In one basement, Utah Tech University Police Chief Wes Licalzi said the water reached 10 to 11 feet, well past the 8-foot ceiling. Carter described water coming up through the storm drains and piling on the road.
Life After the Flood
For some families, going home isn’t possible yet. Carter’s family lost beds, couches, other furniture and a washing machine. The damage means she, her children and their animals can’t stay in the house. Neighbors have also pitched in, and residents near Gould Wash banded together to recover.
The cleanup is repetitive and heavy. Carter said the drywall and flooring they had just put in has to be ripped back out.
Residents Ask About Flood Prevention
Frustration is turning into questions for city leaders. Residents have called for answers about the city’s flood prevention efforts after another round of flooding forced families to restart recovery. Carter is asking the city to take the flooding seriously and look into solutions to prevent future flooding at this level.
I couldn’t confirm any specific new mitigation plans in the reports I reviewed, so it’s too early to say what the city will do. Any engineering fix for a wash like this would likely take time and money, and it would need to be studied carefully.
Part of a Larger Storm System
The Hurricane flood was one piece of a bigger event. A powerful storm system brought days of destructive weather across New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. By Monday morning, floodwaters were receding across northwestern New Mexico, though evacuated neighborhoods remained closed.
Hurricane’s two floods came about 10 weeks apart. The earlier one struck on Aug. 14. Southern Utah’s washes can run dry for long stretches and then fill in minutes.
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