Posted on 12/21/2010 2:47:32 PM PST by Colofornian
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The National Weather Service reports that a dam along the east fork of the Virgin River near Zion National Park is about to break, and warned residents in Springdale and Rockville to evacuate immediately.
The Washington County Commission also signed a declaration of emergency.
The NWS report issued at about 12:30 p.m. said that the imminent failure of the Trees Ranch Dam on the east fork of the Virgin River in Washington County was reported by the Washington County Sheriffs department. The nearest downstream community is Rockville, which is at risk from imminent dam failure.
The NWS reported that IF THe privately-owned dam were to fail "catastrophically," flows in excess of 50,000 cubic feet per second would reach Rockville about 35 to 45 minutes after the failure.
The NWS said a catastrophic failure is a "worst case" scenario, and that a less rapid failure would result in a much lower, although still significant volume of water that would impact the town of Rockville and others downstream.
The dam is located at the mouth of the Parunaweap Canyon which is just south of Zion National Park. Water from the dam was expected to move down the east fork of the Virgin river and eventually into the Virgin river.
The NWS warned all residents who live below the Trees Ranch Dam to take action immediately.
Washington County officials warned all residents who live near the Virgin River to take caution as more than 300 top 500 acre feet of water and debris was expected to flow through Rockville, Ivins, Hurricane, LaVerkin, Washington, St. George and Mesquite.
The Utah American Red Cross planned to open a shelter in Hurricane for residents of Rockville and others who may be forced to evacuate from their homes due to the rising flood water. The shelter will be located at Hurricane Elementary 50 South 100 West.
The American Red Cross in Southern Nevada also opened a shelter Monday night at Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, NV for residents affected by the flooding. The shelter hosted 15 individuals over night and was to remain open for as long as needed. For more information about shelters, go to www.redcross.org and click on “Find a Shelter.”
Stay tuned to ABC 4 News and ABC4.com for more on this story.
That aint good.
I hope everyone heeds the warning.
I pray Bryce Canyon isn’t damaged. Zion is huge granite walls, bt Byrce Hoo Doos look very fragile. GORGEOUS place.
IB4JD!
JD?
Just Dam!
Doh!
But lets give American Tax Dollars to Europe!
This statement must be from the Department of Redundancy Department, which released this statement.
OK...that being said - praying for safety...
Yiikes, how scary for them!
Bump
Would have been nice of ABC4 had put up a picture of the dam, since that’s what the story is about.
Much to far South, watch the dirty devil.
This dam is a long way from Bryce Canyon and well south of Zion. No danger to them whatsoever. It would be a sight to watch the water roar thru the Virgin River Gorge along I-15.
you guys are professionals.
**********
ib4"Bush's fault"
Tree huggers live for stuff like this.
Here’s more from local station in st george:
http://www.kcsg.com/view/full_story/10741088/article-State-of-Emergency-Declared-—Southgate-Golf-Course-Washed-Away-by-Santa-Clara-River?instance=home_first_stories
BTW, Hurricane is the home of the barlow family. A large polygamist family.
When the levee breaks, don’t go back to Rockville.
I’m not a hugger but I have hiked UTAH. it is extraoridinary
Is it?
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