SALT LAKE CITY — The weather may not be picture perfect for tourism, but the dip in temperatures has provided some good news in regards to neighborhood flooding in Utah on Thursday.
Colder temperatures have slowed the runoff in parts of the state, allowing a voluntary evacuation order near Emigration Creek in Salt Lake City to be lifted. Mayor Erin Mendenhall made the announcement in an afternoon briefing, adding that volunteers will not be needed to fill sandbags Thursday evening, but opportunities will be available on Saturday morning.
The update comes hours after a State of Emergency was declared in Salt Lake County following intense and destructive flooding Tuesday and Wednesday caused by quickly melting snow.
A decrease in flows in the Emigration Creek allowed crews to move in and contain the water.
Mendenhall expressed her gratitude for flood control teams and partners, who she said jumped into action Wednesday night to save homes.
"This scenario could have easily caused heavy damage to 100 homes had we not been prepared," Mendenhall wrote in a tweet. "We were able to divert the water and prevent dozens of homes from seeing extensive damage."
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson declared the state of emergency, saying emergency response has been "round-the clock" as Emigration Creek flooded late Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
The declaration allows the county to mobilize resources to address the flooding including, "emergency response teams, increasing staffing levels, and utilizing specialized equipment to protect the residents and property of the county," officials explained in a release.
In addition, Salt Lake County will be able to access state and federal resources to alleviate flood impacts with the emergency declaration.
The declaration goes into effect immediately and will last for the next 30 days. If more help is needed after the declaration is set to expire, the Salt Lake County Council can extend the order.
The floods made for dangerous conditions and damaged areas of the city as water gushed onto streets and sidewalks.
Mendenhall said the water flow impacted a sewer line and sidewalk on 1500 East Thursday morning and officers were working to keep the area safe while crews assessed the damage.
Quick update this morning. Last night’s water flow has impacted the sidewalk and sewer line on 1500 E. Our @slcpd officers are on scene keeping the area safe, while we assess water flows this morning. More to come. pic.twitter.com/BYx3nsIFCg
— Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) April 13, 2023
Hundreds of volunteers spent their time Wednesday night filling and placing sandbags along the creek bed to divert water from homes.
In addition, more than two dozen homes were placed under voluntary evacuation orders due to flood dangers.
Flows were expected to reach their peak between 10 p.m. and midnight Wednesday with water receding by early Thursday morning as temperatures cooled.
The National Weather Service reports temperatures will be near seasonal normals in southern Utah and below normal in northern Utah, "hopefully diminishing snowmelt enough to help with flooding concerns for now."
WATCH: Flooding overtakes Kaysville neighborhood, prompts evacuations
Roads were closed from 1500 East to 1700 East on 1700 South because of an overflow of water in Emigration Creek.
Salt Lake City Fire evacuated about 35 homes at 1700 S between 1500 E and 1700 E due to the flooding Wednesday night.
At the request of Salt Lake City emergency management, Red Cross of Utah staff and volunteers opened up an evacuation shelter at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2215 E. Roosevelt Ave.
Roads are closed on 1500 E to 1700 E on 1700 S and Wasatch Hollow Park, due to an overflow of water in Emigration Creek and debris caught in detention basin. Crews are on scene working to resolve the issue. You may see water in the street going into tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/TlpREki8AH
— @bereadyslc (@bereadyslc) April 12, 2023
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said three homes were impacted with water in garages or basements.
8:15 pm update: Water is currently moving down the roadway along 1500 East then south onto Blaine Ave. @SLCPU and Salt Lake County crews are working to ensure water continues to divert away from homes. Reports of flooding can be made to @SLCPU at 801-483-6700 or SLCo Flood… pic.twitter.com/eaBudoe7Fd
— Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) April 13, 2023
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall was in the area that flooded Wednesday morning with the Public Utilities Director Laura Briefer who said the nearby Emigration Creek overflowed and storm grates became clogged at Wasatch Hollow Park, causing the flooding.
I’m with @SLCPU Director Laura Briefer at Wasatch Hollow to see the immediate mitigation efforts Salt Lake County flood control and our City crews have undertaken to move water away from homes and into storm drains and work to get this flooding from Emigration Creek under… pic.twitter.com/YrippMGdUH
— Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) April 12, 2023
Wasatch Hollow Park will be closed for "some time" as officials work to mitigate the flooding and divert water.
In addition to the flooding, Briefer said there were reports of a landslide that happened overnight in the Pinecrest area of Salt Lake City and "a lot of water" at Rotary Park.
Mendenhall and Briefer emphasized that crews are working around the clock to manage water away from communities.
