Tooele deals with the aftermath of the “100-year storm”

SALT LAKE CITY — Officials are saying it’s the type of storm that only comes around every 100 years.

“I have never seen that much water fall here in the state of Utah. At least not since I was a kid in 1983. It was that bad,” said Jon Smith, Public Information Officer for the North Tooele Fire District.

Now, residents and volunteers are working on the cleanup.

“Scooping out basements, a lot of people had mud, debris and water damage. A lot of people are having to remove sections of sheetrock and carpet. I’ve seen a lot of people putting communal dumpsters in the area,” Smith said.

Along with residents, dozens of volunteers have rallied from the North Tooele Fire District, the Tooele Fire Department, the Grantsville Fire Department, the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office, the Utah Highway Patrol, the Tooele City Police Department and the Grantsville Police Department to help out the community. They originally got the call to help with sandbagging and are now helping with the cleanup.

Some people are making the best of the situation by having some family fun in the almost 4 feet of standing water in one of the city’s parks.

“My family (and I) went out kayaking in the park; it happens. But make sure you’re wearing a life jacket. That water is dangerous; it is cold,” Smith said.

Smith suggested proceeding with caution, as hidden dangers can lurk below that much standing water. But residents can’t spend too much time having fun. They have to focus on the rest of the cleanup before more rain comes on Friday.

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