Mayor Mendenhall Decales State of Emergency for Flooding in Sugarhouse
Several residences in the Sugar House neighborhood faced voluntary evacuation orders following flooding and Emigration Creek runoff on Wednesday night. The Salt Lake City Fire Department notified about 40 homes near 1700 South between 1500 East and 1700 East.
City and county authorities extended the evacuation area during the night to encompass residents on both the north and south sides of Glen Arbor Street, the south side of Blaine Avenue between 1500 East and 1600 East and those living in Downington Circle. According to a tweet by Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, the voluntary evacuation came as a precaution against the potential clogging of a nearby culvert drainage pipe, which could cause the adjacent creek to overflow.
Community members, armed with shovels, joined forces to protect houses from flooding. Mendenhall estimated that approximately 1,000 volunteers responded to the call for assistance with sandbags. In addition, an evacuation shelter was established at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse, located at 2215 E. Roosevelt Avenue. Although no one had used the shelter by Thursday morning, city officials said it could be reopened.
We’re asking for volunteers who are local to the Wasatch Hollow neighborhood and adjacent neighborhoods to help fill sandbags at 1:30 p.m. today. Please don’t drive from other parts of the city. Fewer vehicles in the area will make it easier for our crews to do their work. Thank… https://t.co/4wMfNnnzOP
— Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) April 13, 2023
Mendenhall expressed gratitude to neighbors, firefighters, and police officers for their swift response to the emergency, noting the presence of people from various age groups offering help. “We put the call out to our community, and as always, the Salt Lakers showed up,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown.
A flood warning for Emigration Creek remained in effect until early Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service reported that the creek had crested and was receding. Although cooler weather on Thursday is expected to reduce the risk of flooding, emergency crews warned that morning rain might hinder cleanup efforts. Sgt. Melody Cutler of the Unified Police Department informed that Emigration Canyon was open but restricted to residents during the cleanup.
Mayor Mendenhall shared a photo on Twitter, revealing some of the erosion caused by the flooding. City officials urged cyclists and pedestrians to avoid the area as crews examined infrastructure and sidewalks. In addition, volunteers were requested to help fill more sandbags at around 1:30 p.m. The city will announce additional locations and volunteer opportunities to prepare sandbags for other parts of Salt Lake City in the future.
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