Utah officials are warning everyone to take the threat of flash flooding seriously. A weekend thunderstorm left a three-mile stretch of the tourist town of Moab buried under mud and debris.
MOAB – Gov. Spencer Cox has issued a State of Emergency declaration in response to weekend flooding in Grand, Emory and Wayne counties.
Here in Moab, officials are saying that damage estimates from the flash floods over the weekend could be as high as $10 million with debris, dirt and mud caking much of a three-mile stretch of the town.
State officials say the governor’s declaration raises awareness of the dangers of flash flooding and authorizes Utah to continue offering assistance to local officials as needed.
“We’ve seen destructive flash floods tear through communities, damage homes and businesses and endanger lives through southern Utah,” Cox said, including the flood that tore through Moab on Saturday night due to a massive thunderstorm.
“State government remains ready to offer emergency coordination and expertise as these areas recover and rebuild.”
Cox also expressed regret over the loss of Jetal Agnihotri of Tucson, a hiker who was missing in Zions National Park. Her body was found in the Virgin River late Tuesday.
“We urge everyone to take flash floods seriously,” Cox said. “About 170 individuals spent 1,700 hours on search and rescue. We can’t thank them enough for their relentless efforts.”
Many residents of southern Utah are still in disbelief over the damage caused by what some locals are referring to as a hundred-year storm.
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson visited Moab on Tuesday, meeting with Mayor Joette Langianese, members of the City Council, Grand County commissioners and local business owners.
“I’m shocked by the size and scope of the flooding that swept through Moab causing damage to homes, businesses and local infrastructure,” Henderson said. “Fortunately, I’m hopeful for a full recovery.
“Moab is still open for business,” the lieutenant governor emphasized to reporters, “and the cleanup is well underway. If you want to help, visit Moab. Locals need your business, now more than ever.”
Representatives of the Utah Department of Public Safety have been monitoring flood conditions, debris flows and mudslides throughout the state.
The Office of Emergency Management Services was also on the scene in Moab to offer support and assistance to local officials.