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Gov. Cox declares state of emergency as majority of Utah under flood watch

The executive order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Legislature.

(Utah Department of Transportation) Damage on SR-153 caused by flooding on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

(Utah Department of Transportation) Damage on SR-153 caused by flooding on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Following days of flash flooding and the majority of the state of Utah being under a flood watch, Governor Spencer Cox has declared a state of emergency in Beaver, Piute, and Sevier counties.

The declaration activates Utah’s Emergency Operations Plan, allowing the state to continue deploying resources to protect residents and support recovery efforts.

“Utahns have endured an incredibly difficult wildfire season, and now many of these same communities are facing life-threatening flooding caused by those fires,” said Gov. Cox. “This declaration ensures we can continue providing every available resource to help local communities respond, recover and prepare for the continued flood risks that remain throughout the summer. We are grateful to the firefighters, emergency managers, law enforcement officers, public works crews and countless others working around the clock to keep Utahns safe.”

The executive order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Legislature.

According to the National Weather Service, “Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon will be capable of producing heavy rainfall that can lead to flash flooding.”

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