Insurance company to assess flood damage in Murray


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MURRAY — Residents impacted by a canal break over the weekend will be visited by insurance adjusters Monday morning to assess the damage.

Many residents saw mud and water fill their basements, but the flood wasn't the first time they had seen leaks from the canal. Over the years, there have been a number of small leaks from the canal.

John Brown's property was damaged by a leak last year, and his home took on water and mud during Saturday's breach. Insurance companies responded positively to the damage to his property last year, he said, but he is concerned that another leak happened within a short period of time.

"It's a process that we have to get through," Brown said. "There's no reason to get too excited about it."

Brown's was one of many homes damaged when a wall of mud and water surged into more than half a dozen homes Saturday. Homes on the south side of Saddle Bluff Drive 6765 South and 1200 West were hit with flood waters, and in the late afternoon ground gave way and left a gaping hole where the canal flowed.

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Boyd Simper, North Jordan Canal Company's secretary and treasurer, said he is 98 percent sure the company's insurance policy will cover for the damage caused by the breach. However he also said homeowners, like Brown, knew the risks when they moved there.

While insurance adjusters work to figure out how much damage was caused and calculate the cost of repairs and cleanup, the North Jordan Canal Company has hired an engineer to begin testing the integrity of the canal and determine what caused the breach.

In addition, Boyd said the company's board will review the proposal on how to repair the canal and prevent similar floods in the future. But in the meantime, residents will continue to clean and minimize the damage caused to their homes, properties and neighborhoods. Monday marks the third day of cleanup.

"Just seeing everyone in the community helping one another is just awesome," said Ashley Hafen, a volunteer helping with cleanup.

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