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WOODS CROSS — Wednesday night's storm brought down nearly 1 1/2 inches of rain in some areas across the northern Wasatch Front, filling streets and flooding homes.
For Marvin Hall of Woods Cross, that heavy rainfall led to a flood that damaged all his belongings in the blink of an eye.
“Fifteen minutes (and) it was over. I mean, your whole life could be gone and everything you’ve ever owned could be gone in 15 minutes,” said Hall, whose basement apartment near 600 West and 1600 South was flooded with 6 feet of water Wednesday evening.
Hall and his wife were getting ready for bed when he noticed some water coming in through the basement door. Hall went outside to place a pump in the cement stairwell to prevent more water from accumulating outside the entrance.
When he got to the top of the stairwell, what he saw shocked him.
Hall saw what he described as “a wave of water coming towards the house” filling the street. He went inside and told his wife to go upstairs and tell the upstairs neighbors that they might have to abandon the house.
Hall went to exit through the basement apartment door again, but by that time, the stairwell was filled with waist-deep water and the force of it knocked him over. Hall was able to grab the metal handrail in the stairwell to keep from being swept inside.
Based on the waterline left in the apartment, the deluge of water had filled all the rooms 6 feet deep, displacing everything inside, destroying electronics and even leaving the refrigerator “floating” inside the apartment. Doors were ripped from their hinges and the water left gaping holes in the Sheetrock.
On Thursday morning, neighbors were helping the Halls attempt to pick up the pieces, trying to save pictures, papers and other family heirlooms. Hall and his wife plan to save what they can and start from there.
As for insurance, the Halls are not covered as renters and, while the homeowner is insured, flooding was not part of the policy, according to the Halls.
Since Hall thought he “was going to die” during the incident, he said he’s happy to be alive.
Contributing: Paul Nelson
