Moab Residents Struggle with Damage from Recent Flash Floods

After recent flash floods, Moab residents are facing significant damage to their homes and businesses. Tammie Nakai Nez and Brandon Nez, whose trailer was struck by a tree during a lightning storm on June 21, saw about a foot of standing water enter their home. Tammie shared, “We are very fortunate that we are still alive… There is a lot of damage that still needs to be worked on – it’s not just the roof.”

The fallen tree caused their trailer, their home for nearly 20 years, to sink into its foundation, creating holes and cracks throughout. These damages made their home unlivable for five days. While some repairs have been temporarily made in the kitchen and bedroom, they still need funds for full repairs. Support from Brandon’s brother and other family members has been crucial. Tammie expressed gratitude, saying, “[They] feel for us … it was a good feeling to know that we’re actually going down the right path of recovering from this trauma that we had, as well as recovering our home.”

The couple has also received assistance from the Red Cross, Moab Solutions, Simbeck and Associates, Inc., and a GoFundMe campaign.

Helen M. Knight Elementary School also suffered extensive damage from a storm on June 27, primarily due to hail. The hail cracked the roof membrane and blocked the drain, leading to severe flooding. Dr. Mike McFalls, the new superintendent of Grand County School District, explained that the flooding damaged ceiling tiles, walls, some technology, and flooded the cafeteria and gym. The school has started removing damaged ceiling and carpet tiles and brought in fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the building. McFalls is hopeful the repairs will be completed before school starts, but a backup plan is in place if needed. The school is insured, so they will proceed with the claims process soon.

Marcia Ewell, who has lived in her 1928 home for decades, has faced unprecedented flooding due to recent storms, including about two feet of water in her basement. Despite her home being in a relatively high area within the 500-year and close to the 1,000-year floodplains, Ewell attributes the flooding to “inadequate stormwater infrastructure.” She said, “I’m a victim of the city’s lack of proper-sized stormwater drains and culverts and the lack of maintenance to the existing way-undersized culvert that is filled with mud and debris clogging up during these events.”

Ewell has experienced both minor and major flooding since a stormwater infrastructure upgrade 20 years ago. She explained, “I get all the runoff from 191 at 500 West/Denny’s and south to Moenkopi and McGill, and then everything to the east of those areas all the way to the slickrock cliffs and beyond up into the La Sal drainage that flows my way.” After the recent floods, Ewell’s basement is now dry thanks to a large sump pump and fans, but the repeated flooding has been challenging. She recalled that the July 2021 flood brought water within three-fourths of an inch of her door.

The Moab City Engineer had told her the 2021 flood was a rare event and mentioned new culverts that would have diverted the water away were shut down. She believes the city lacks the equipment or workforce to clean the nearby culvert and might need to hire a contractor. Despite this, Ewell is optimistic that the recent floods will prompt the city to take action. She suggested starting a grassroots movement to install rain gardens and catch basins throughout Moab to help reduce flooding. “We start up high and work our way down, installing berms and terracing to make rain gardens where flood water and roof gutter spouts go, and we slow the speed of the water and lessen the impact of the wall of water as it moves through Moab,” she said.

When considering the purchase of a home, there are many major factors in choosing well.  There are many places in Utah that are seeing new home builds, such as new home construction in washington county ut. It is important to consider the civic engineering around the communities that are being built around the state to help prevent events like flooding.