Two homes evacuated due to mudslide in Morgan County

MOUNTAIN GREEN, Utah — A mudslide in Morgan County forced four people from their homes over the weekend.

Crews from the Mountain Green Fire Protection District were called out to a home near 5500 Mountain View Drive Sunday afternoon and helped neighbors dig several drainage trenches to try and relieve water buildup and snow near the home.

“When Mother Nature decides to move, she’s gonna move,” Mountain Green Fire Chief Brian Brendel said. “This, I think, we’re just at the very beginning.”

An aerial view of the mudslide in Mountain Green from @KSLChopper5 #KSLTV #utwx #mudslide pic.twitter.com/Xk4PPKhPv5

— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) April 17, 2023

Homeowners told first responders the mudslide started Friday night but they thought it had stabilized. Around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, firefighters were called back to the Mountain Green Highland subdivision after the hillside slid another 20 feet into the side and rear of the home. No mud had entered the home as of 6 a.m. Monday.

Neighbors helped the homeowners remove some urgent belongings as crews assessed the hillside. Brendel said crews determined the home was unsafe to remain in, and they advised a next-door home to evacuate as well.

This came as there was a chance for more rain in the area Monday.

“More rain, it will just decide to slide,” Brendel said.

The Morgan County engineer and U.S. Geological Survey were assessing the situation Monday morning.

Nick Wallace, who also lives in Mountain Green and works on homes as a general contractor, helped the family gather their belongings and evacuate over the weekend. He said drainage is the biggest thing along with a sturdy foundation.

“Any of the newer houses, they put in helical piers under most of them, so that if they do have mudslides or any type of ground movement, it keeps the houses more stable,” Wallace said. “Got a ton of snow. It’s nice for a lot of things, but this part it’s a little tough.”

You can really see how much of a mud slide this is coming up behind the home.

Work continues this am! @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/YfJl9IzQ5h

— Karah Brackin (@kbontv) April 17, 2023

Phil Ralphs, who lives directly across the street from the affected home, said neighbors quickly jumped into action to help over the weekend.

“We probably had 120 people up here,” he said. “We moved the entire contents of the house pretty much.”

He told KSL TV on Monday what he saw and heard over the weekend, particularly on Sunday.

“We could hear the ground actually making noise. It was pretty wild.”

Neighbors in Mountain Green worried after a mudslide approximately 200 feet wide forced two homes to evacuate. The area is extremely saturated and from Chopper 5 we can see several small sluffs. We’ll give you a live look from Chopper 5 tonight at 6. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/fiwjY6oKnS

— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) April 17, 2023

Ralphs worries this is just the beginning of mudslides for the area, adding that he’s worried about those further up the canyon as well as the potential damage to his neighbor’s home.

“We’re just hoping he’ll be able to get back into his house.”

For now, Ralphs’ neighbor is staying with him.