Cox issues state of emergency over flooding in southern Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has issued a state of emergency in San Juan and Washington counties after flooding over the past few weeks caused significant damage in both southeast and southwest Utah.

The order, signed on Friday, allows the state to mobilize resources that can support affected communities to respond and recover from disasters, and also potentially seek federal or interstate assistance.

"Repeated flooding has damaged homes, disrupted access to drinking water and cut off important travel routes," the governor said in a statement. "This declaration will help us support local efforts and get resources to affected Utahns. I'm grateful to the emergency responders and crews who are working to keep people safe."

A pair of storms at the end of October and early November led to serious flooding impacts in both regions, starting on Oct. 22. Hurricane declared an emergency after heavy downpours caused Gould Wash to flood, impacting approximately 130 residential homes or recreational vehicles in the city.

It also damaged or affected bridges, culverts, public roadways and electrical power boxes, while mud and debris covered roadways, creating public safety concerns and disrupting essential services.

Parts of San Juan County also flooded, especially as the San Juan River swelled within the Four Corners. Another storm a week later created more flooding and infrastructure problems for the region.

Comb Wash Bridge along U.S. 163 was closed because of a gap between the bridge and roadway, Cox noted. Flooding also caused damage to the highway, as well as sections of state routes 162 and 262 and local roads near Montezuma Creek and Bluff in San Juan County.

Water lines, telecommunications and fiber infrastructure were also damaged. State and local officials are still waiting to know the full extent of damage, which can't be determined until floodwaters fully recede.

The San Juan River at a site near the Four Corners peaked at 21.3 feet on Tuesday, shattering its previous record by nearly 7 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Flooding advisories tied to the river expired after Thursday.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson issued an emergency election order earlier this week that authorized affected San Juan County residents to vote electronically on Tuesday because of the flooding.

Friday's order will remain in effect for the month unless extended by the Utah Legislature.

Cox issued a similar order in July, after heavy rains caused significant flooding damage near recent burn scars in Beaver, Piute and Sevier counties. Hundreds of homes were impacted, and sections of state Route 153 remain closed because of the damage.

The recent surge came from multiple strong subtropical storms that made it to the state over the past month, including hurricane remnants and atmospheric rivers.

Precipitation totals over the past 60 days have averaged between 200% and 400% or more across most of Utah, as well as many parts of Arizona, southern Nevada and southern California, according to Brad Pugh, a drought meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center.

The storms have been influenced by the current strong El Niño oceanic pattern, which has helped lift parts of Utah out of drought, but also caused flooding, he wrote in a drought update on Thursday.

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