Zion road re-opens as Utah residents clean up after flooding

Residents of several southwestern Utah communities are helping their neighbors clean up their properties after flooding from heavy rain.

The Spectrum reports that residents of Washington City near St. George deployed to help after a flash flood sent mud, debris and water into basements and yards Friday night.

Resident Dustin Davis said residents carried furniture from some homes’ basements and bailed out others. He said water filled one home’s basement to the ceiling.

Earlier flooding closed roads and damaged numerous homes in Dammeron Valley north of St. George.

In Panguich, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office advised people to not drink the water due to contamination from flooding. Bottles of drinking water were provided at several locations.

Zion highway re-opens

A highway through Zion National Park on southern Utah has reopened after being closed due to mud and debris from a heavy rainstorm.

Park officials said Friday the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway was reopened after being closed from Canyon Junction to the park’s east entrance after the storm Wednesday night.

Officials said the mud and debris were up to 4 feet deep and that plows cleared a path to dozens of vehicles that were stranded.

No injuries were reported.

Officials said the national park near St. George north of the Arizona line received 3 inches of rain in a short amount of time Wednesday night.