Salt Lake City has declared a state of emergency after weekend flooding damaged more than two dozen homes the city’s northwest quadrant.
That part of the city — including the Rose Park, Fairpark, Westpointe and Willow Place neighborhoods — saw 2½ inches of rain between Friday and Saturday. That downpour led to flood damage to private and public property, the city said in a news release.
Specifically, more than 24 houses were damaged in the Willow Place neighborhood, near Interstate 215, the city’s release said.
The damage to homes ranges from mild to severe, said Laura Briefer, the director of the city’s department of public utilities, during a presentation to the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday.
By declaring a 30-day state of emergency, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the city is able to free up more assistance and better focus on mitigating the damage.
“It allows us to direct more city resources into cleanup, work hand-in-hand with the county and state, and open the door to financial assistance that could ease the burden for residents whose homes were damaged,” Mendenhall said.
The city’s website, slcgov.com, is providing updates and information about resources available to people affected by flooding. The website includes guidance on how to document losses and instructions for disposing of hazardous materials.
Saturday was the second-wettest day in the recorded history of the Salt Lake City area, dating back to 1874, according to the National Weather Service.
A canal east of Interstate 215 overflowed over the weekend, sending water into peoples’ backyards and homes.
“There is just too much water for the canal that runs through this area to hold,” Chloe Morroni, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Public Utilities Department, said Saturday.
On Monday, several residents were outside to dry appliances, furniture, clothes and other possessions that had been drenched in the floodwaters. They said they worried the area could flood again if they see another deluge.
Though the National Weather Service has forecast a chance of rain in Salt Lake City this weekend, Briefer said the canal should have enough time to drain before potential storms. She also said public utilities workers plan to make sure the storm drain system is not blocked by debris.
In addition to the homes damaged in Salt Lake City, more than 30 homes in Tooele County also were flooded in the storm.