Parleys Creek, swollen by spring snowmelt, surges through Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Salt Lake County extended its state of emergency through June 13. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — In the wake of the record-breaking snowpack and the potential for additional flooding, Salt Lake County extended its state of emergency Tuesday afternoon.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson originally declared a state of emergency on April 13. With an ongoing need for resources to assist with potential flooding, the order has been extended to June 13.
A news release from Salt Lake County, states if it is necessary, the state of emergency can be extended beyond June 13. The Salt Lake County Flood Control expects to be on high alert through early July, at least.
“With such an unprecedented snowpack, we know there is potential for flooding,” Wilson said in a news release. “I am so thankful to our Flood Control crews who have spent the winter months preparing. And are continuing to respond around the clock to prioritize residents’ safety and minimize property damage. While our systems and infrastructure are in place to handle our normal year-to-year averages, we cannot possibly predict the outcomes of a historic, natural event and this emergency declaration gives us additional resources to respond.”
Under the state of emergency, the county is able to mobilize all available resources to deal with any current flooding. This includes deploying emergency response teams and increasing staffing levels. Additionally, it also allows the county to have access to resources at the state and federal levels to help minimize flood damage.
View the full declaration by clicking here.
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