Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon


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Nishi Gupta reporting Dozens of homes are being threatened this weekend, with the early run-off to blame.

Two counties, two big problems: Emigration Canyon, and a neighborhood in Jeremy Ranch.

People in Emigration Canyon are keeping a close eye on the creek as water rages down roads and into their yards.

"We bagged up last night and woke up this morning and the stream had risen to levels we hadn't seen before"

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

Residents have been dealing with the threat of flooding for several days now. First, debris clogged some culverts in the area causing water to back-up. Now the run-off is compounding the problem.

Officials say it's kind of late to prepare for the flooding, all people can do is sandbag to prevent more of it.

"Just this river down the lane, completely flooded, just amazing"

It may be hard to believe, but this is actually a road

Rick Olsen, Salt Lake County Flood Control: "What we've got is more water than we've had in many, many years"

The combination of early spring runoff and debris-clogged culverts in the Emigration Canyon area has caused high water levels. It caught officials off guard.

Rick Olsen, Salt Lake County Flood Control: "All the preparation is by the wayside now other than sandbagging and trying to protect those homes in danger"

It gave a group of residents an unexpected Saturday workout.

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

Alexa Doig stepped away from her home for an hour...

Alexa Doig, Resident, "It actually flooded from the stream, all the way to the house, it was about 6 inches deep and just raging down"

...and returned to find her yard a lake. A bridge over the stream nearby had become clogged. Two hours and fifteen people later, a barricade of sandbags- more than a hundred feet in length - prevented water from seeping inside the home

Erica Andersen was a little luckier. Her home is higher up, and for now, out of harm's way. So instead of worrying about her place, she'll help secure homes of others.

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

Erica Andersen, resident: "I can't do anything other than fill the sandbags"

Playing in the sand -although maybe not the way they envisioned - became a neighborhood responsibility today. Some people were out before the sun was up, making sure the gushing water, didn't close the doors to popular Emigration Canyon joints like Ruth's Diner

As county crews continue to clean up the mess, perhaps some good news for Emigration Canyon�

Rick Olsen, Salt Lake County Flood Control: "Its pretty much peaked its not going to get a lot higher than this"

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

...and perhaps bad news for others.

Rick Olsen, Salt Lake County Flood Control: "Other canyons haven't started yet"

The national weather service says water levels here aren't going to lower until mid-week. People are encouraged to come and fill sandbags. There are several stations with mounds of sand and empty bags.

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

Near Jeremy Ranch in Summit County, a huge mudslide gave way, knocking down several trees and a power pole, slamming against the side of a home, before it continued downhill.

Tricia Hurd/ Park City Fire, "Due to natural causes, natural run off we had a mudslide"

Bruce Bicksler, Resident, "Hey it's mother nature doing its thing"

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

Ralph Hottinger, Resident, "Within 5 seconds I heard this wild rumbling and grumbling. I thought lightning had struck"

Ralph Hottinger was quickly corrected.

Ralph Hottinger, Resident, "I looked out and there was 2 foot- 3 foot mud wall coming down the road"

It landed right in his driveway. The neighborhood came out to see what all the fuss was about. Public works crews quickly moved in.

Mudslide Near Jeremy Ranch, Flooding in Emigration Canyon

People in Jeremy Ranch need to also keep an eye out for further mud, luckily there was no structural damage to any homes.

If you would like to keep an eye on rivers near you, Click Here

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