UTAH'S FLOOD WATCH

Homeowners in Ogden Valley prepare for rising runoff

May 12, 2023, 7:33 PM | Updated: 8:50 pm

OGDEN VALLEY, Utah — Parts of the South Fork River started to spill over and threaten some homes and farms in the Ogden Valley.

Some homeowners have been pushing back those riverbanks for months. They say a system of neighbors helping neighbors, that we see so often here in Utah, is helping each of them fight those waters in ways that would be overwhelming on their own.

“It’s pretty incredible how people will respond when people are in dire need,” Craig Wilcox said.

Stacked sandbags

The Ogden Valley’s Wilcox family is grateful for their neighbors who helped them divert water from their home with a four-foot-high wall of sandbags. (KSL TV)

Wilcox and his family have seen it over and over. Friends and neighbors helping them gradually build a four-foot-high wall of sandbags.

Bridge Wilcox said, “End of March, and we had about three feet of snow out here. We had to plow snow to get out of here to put sandbags out here.”

Waterways form all over the field behind their home.

“I never thought we’d have three rivers running through our back year, that’s for sure,” said Abbie Wilcox.

“It’s a little frightening. I mean yesterday we had about ten inches in our crawlspace and we were able to add a couple more pumps,” Craig said. “We got five pumps going right now.”

The volunteers keep coming back.

The Ogden Valley’s Wilcox family is grateful for their neighbors who helped them divert water from their home with a four-foot-high wall of sandbags. (KSL TV)

“A couple of us were saying, ‘Man, we’re just exhausted. Running the long hours early in the morning, getting calls at 7, 7:30 when people are waking up and realizing water is coming in from the evening,” said Darren Funk, a neighbor and volunteer.

A county roads crew was on scene too, clearing branches and trees from the river. Also, a drone from Weber County Sheriff’s Office got a bird’s eye view of the trouble areas.

All of it adds up, working together to move a river which is something the neighbors say they will keep doing.

County roads crews depend in part on homeowners and neighbors to help spot some of those trouble areas.

The drone from the sheriff’s department is typically used for search and rescue but it now being used to check canals and waterways.

KSL 5 TV Live

Utah's Flood Watch

Utah Lake water release...

Alex Cabrero

Utah Lake release sends 300 million gallons of water a day into the Great Salt Lake

The Utah Lake control gates in Saratoga Springs opened Thursday morning to release water into the Great Salt Lake.

2 months ago

(KSL TV)...

Mike Anderson

Tons of sediment cleared from Logan River to protect power generators

Tons of sediment is being pulled from the Logan River as part of a project to clean up power generators.

3 months ago

Crews work on flood mitigation in Eagle Mountain...

Brittany Tait

Eagle Mountain’s project to reduce flooding threat

After an unseasonably rainy spring, certain neighborhoods in Eagle Mountain witnessed multiple floods. 

6 months ago

A man skateboards with an umbrella as it rains in Salt Lake City on Aug. 22. Utah water officials s...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

How impactful have this year’s monsoons been for Utah’s water supply?

Utah's monsoon season is slowly winding down, but not before leaving an impact on Utah's reservoirs in various ways.

7 months ago

A line of storms rolls through Salt Lake Valley on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Spenser Heaps/ Deseret...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Flood watches, wind advisories issued as Hilary’s remnants eke past Utah

Several flood and high wind advisories remain in effect throughout Utah most of Monday, and even into Tuesday, as the remnants of Hurricane Hilary move through parts of Utah.

7 months ago

Sandbags were stacked at the Intermountain hospital in Cedar City as the area expected more floodin...

Lauren Steinbrecher

Cedar City braces for more flash flooding

Preparations were underway Friday for flash flooding in parts of Southern Utah, as communities like Cedar City work to make sure they don’t get a repeat of what the storms brought Thursday.

7 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Homeowners in Ogden Valley prepare for rising runoff