Zion Flash Flood
Jun 30, 2021 09:27:42 #
Yesterday as I started my shift at the Zion Campground and RV Resort Mother Nature hit us with a thunderstorm and flash flood which destroyed the hotel and major damage to the RV Park. The market across the street was hit with 8ft of water in the store which destroyed everything. My wife fixes 150-200 sack lunch breakfasts every day and the kitchen area was totally destroyed. At least she had just finished her shift.. I got to witness geology in action with a river rolling mud, boulders, broken trees, shoving cars into others and while we were starting to assess the damage, I was looking up at one of the cliffs above Springdale and saw a fairly large rock break away. Fortunately it didn't do any damage. We are still wondering about hikers in the Park as this storm hit fast and hard.
Front doors
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Hotel lobby
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Pool
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6 in deep mud in every room
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Ten foot deep ravine is now full
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Jun 30, 2021 09:33:36 #
Jun 30, 2021 09:33:44 #
Devastating and totally takes the wind out of our mental soles…..
Jun 30, 2021 09:36:53 #
Jun 30, 2021 09:53:31 #
Nowadays, the EPA requires projects to withstand a 100-year flood event. I surmise two scenarios in this regard. One, the projects pre-date this requirement and met their fate as expected. Two, somehow, the projects skirted the requirement -- likely due to economic expediency.
The affected property owners may howl enough to get free funding for restoring their properties. But better that the local officials cooperate with the EPA to design their businesses to withstand another flood event.
The affected property owners may howl enough to get free funding for restoring their properties. But better that the local officials cooperate with the EPA to design their businesses to withstand another flood event.
Jun 30, 2021 09:55:25 #
Jun 30, 2021 10:11:43 #
Jun 30, 2021 12:39:55 #
Thanks for sharing. I hope that you and your wife are OK and that this will not cause you more problems.
Jun 30, 2021 14:04:45 #
Nothing like a house full of stinky river silt to screw up a week or so. I hope you and yours are OK
Jun 30, 2021 16:31:28 #
anotherview wrote:
Nowadays, the EPA requires projects to withstand a... (show quote)
It was not in a flood plane and even built a million dollar concrete culvert to make sure the stream bed flowed properly to the river. I understand the stream plugged up with boulders 1/2mile upstream and diverted waterfowl to the street which runs directly into the property, which has been that way for 45 years.
Jul 1, 2021 05:19:27 #
Jul 1, 2021 05:56:01 #
One week ago today, my daughter, three grandchildren and I traveled from Hurricane to Springdale and took a sunset guided tour drive thru parts of Zion Nat Park. For once our timing was good. Very sorry for the damage incurred in this disastrous storm and flood. Prayers.
Jul 1, 2021 08:06:40 #
Jul 1, 2021 08:21:18 #
anotherview wrote:
Nowadays, the EPA requires projects to withstand a... (show quote)
That is awfully vague: "the EPA requires projects to withstand a 100-year flood event". Please reference a source. What "projects" would such a regulation cover? Privately financed structures as well as federally-funded? Building codes are a local thing. Setbacks from the water line are usually a state thing - and that does not concern the building survivability but the protection of the waterway. The ability of the EPA to even regulate pollution introduced into small waterways was gutted by the last administration.
Jul 1, 2021 09:46:49 #
Thanks for this first-hand look at the damage, Alberio...what a mess and glad you and the wife came out okay!! 
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