HILDALE, UTAH – September 15, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – New video posted on social media shows the raw power of the deadly flash flooding which ripped through the heart of the tiny, isolated, polygamist community of Hildale, Utah late Monday afternoon.
Twelve people are now confirmed dead and at least one other is missing after the vehicles they were riding in were overtaken by churning flood waters in an area known as the Canyon Street -Maxwell Crossing.
Hildale Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Barlow told Gephardt Daily that two more people inside the vehicles had managed to escape, but a third was injured and was hospitalized.
The following statement was released by the Utah Division of Emergency Management Monday evening :
At approx. 5:00 PM heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Hildale area. The flooding caused extensive damage and several vehicles were washed downstream. In the flash flooding two occupied vehicles were hit by a large wall of water and debris at the Canyon Street Maxwell Crossing and were carried into the Flood. There were 16 people with the vehicles who were washed downstream by the flooding. At this time there are Six confirmed deceased, three surviving victims, one was transported to DRMC for treatment, and seven people are still missing at this time. Emergency responders from Hildale, Colorado City, Hurricane, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue, Mohave County, and Apple Valley are continuing to search for the missing. The Public Information is being handled by Hildale Officials and information will be shared by Emergency Services as it becomes available.
The information was updated at 7:20 a.m. today:
Fire and public works crews worked through the night monitoring flood crossings and searching the banks of Short Creek.
A large contingent of contractors, using heavy equipment, are working to clear thousands of tons of mud and debris from the Central Street creek crossing.
Rain continued throughout the night – flooding has continued and all crossings remain closed.
One survivor remained hospitalized over night. There are eight confirmed dead, and five still missing. Six of the deceased were located in Utah and two in Arizona, almost 2 1/2 miles down stream.
The search effort will continue and resources will be increased this morning, weather permitting.
Stay with Gephardt Daily for the latest information.
