14,000 sandbags and counting, Provo City getting ready for floods

PROVO, Utah —  Hundreds of volunteers and city officials in Provo have been working hard to fill sandbags in preparation for more flooding.

As of today over 14,000 sandbags have been filled, helping the state reach its goal of 100,000 sandbags filled by May 1. 

These sandbags are currently sitting on pallets at the Provo public works yard.

“We haven’t started deploying them yet because we are watching the canyons to know where’s the first area that we need to respond to. So right now, it’s mostly preparation, get them on the trucks, and then let’s see what happens in the next couple of days,” says Dave Decker, the Public Works Director for Provo City. 

Flooding in the Provo area is most likely to come from its three main canyons: Provo Canyon, Slate Canyon, and Rock Canyon.

Most of the water that will come from the mountains will ultimately end up in Utah Lake, surpassing its compromise level of approximately 10 feet. 

Where the water comes down and its speed will depend on how quickly temperatures rise over the next several weeks.

What to do to stay safe

Government and city officials are urging citizens to do several things to stay safe as floods increase:

1. Check local flood maps to see if your home is in a high-risk area
2. Create an emergency escape plan if flooding does occur at or around your home
3. Do mitigation work around your own home to prevent flooding
4. Keep children, pets, and yourself away from high flowing rivers and streams
5. Get flood insurance if you are located in a high-risk area
6. Volunteer filling sand bags

Decker says one of the most important things is to stay away from rivers right now. At least until levels are back to safe levels.

“Be really careful. It would be very difficult to try and pull somebody out of the river even where it’s at today.”

Related reading

• Hogle Zoo conducts first-ever flood drill
• Looking to help? Volunteers needed for flood mitigation