That is little consolation to the latest victims of southwestern Utah's sometimes fickle combination of topography, geology and weather, who watched helplessly a couple of days ago as the suddenly torrential Santa Clara swallowed up more than a dozen homes and made almost as many others unlivable. We join other Utahns in expressing our condolences to the families of the two people presumed drowned, and to those who lost their homes.

We applaud newly inaugurated Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. for acting quickly to proclaim a state of emergency and bring state and federal resources to bear on the disaster.

As St. George, Santa Clara and other nearby communities join hands, clean up the mess and look to the future, we are confident that they will re-examine public policy that relates to building homes in the flood plains of these and other local drainages. Because while this disaster is the latest of its kind, it is far from unprecedented.

Mormon settlers learned in the 1860s how the usually placid local streams could quickly swell during heavy rains, change course and devour farmland and crops. In more recent times, the area endured a major flood on Dec. 6-7, 1966. Just 16 years ago, on New Year's Day 1989, flooding took out the earthfill Quail Creek Dike, since replaced by a compacted concrete structure.

In the wake of the 1989 flood, which resulted in a presidential disaster declaration, local officials had the foresight to develop a parkway along the Virgin River that prevents development in the flood plain. In the bargain, the parkway provides recreational and open space.

This land would otherwise be considered highly desirable and suitable for development, except, of course, when the Virgin goes on a rampage.

This week's flooding suggests that a similar policy would be beneficial on the Santa Clara. At the very least, local governments should consider what they can do to discourage residential development in the river's flood plain.

Though the topography in Washington County is unique, the desire of people to build near streams is not. The appeal of running water, especially in the desert, is universal. Unfortunately, people also tend to encroach on historic streambeds that only become dangerous in infrequent times of flooding.

In Utah's Dixie, there is a long history of flood-related disaster. Land-use policy should reflect that.