Neighbors Come Together To Divert Flood, Save Houses In Elk Ridge

ELK RIDGE, Utah – At least a dozen homes were evacuated from Loafer Canyon in Utah County after a flash flood in the area. The community rallied and worked together to limit the damage.

The evacuation order was issued around 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the canyon, located south of Elk Ridge and Woodland Hills.

Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office estimated approximately 100 to 200 people were affected by the evacuation.

A strong storm that moved across the Wasatch Front brought heavy rains in a short amount of time, overflowing the creek bed into resident’s yards and across roads.

Residents were able to stop the water from that was heading to their window wells and basements, and divert it back into the creek bed.

It was a close call for many homeowners, but the community rallied to help one another.

“The citizens of Elk Ridge are awesome,” said one resident. “Within five minutes we had a n army down here, digging trenches, diverting ditches and hauling sandbags. We all got called from further down the canyon. I just appreciate all the help from the neighbors and the community.”

The flooding was in the same area as last year’s Bald Mountain and Pole Creek Fires that combined to consume an area more than 120,000 acres.

Officials have been concerned about flooding in the area due to the size of the burn scar and proximity to homes.

Information was not available about where residents were being evacuated to, but Sgt. Cannon did say there were no reports of any injuries.