Afternoon thunderstorm pounds Cedar City, causes flood damage in several areas, including county jail

Written by Jeff Richards
August 17, 2023

CEDAR CITY — A fast-moving midafternoon thunderstorm dumped rain in Cedar City and other parts of Iron County on Thursday, causing flooding and damage in several areas.

Rain and flooding near Iron County Sheriff’s Office and Iron County Jail facility, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 17, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City’s Coal Creek quickly filled up as drainage culverts emptied torrents of chocolate-colored water into the channel.

Neighborhoods in the northern part of Cedar City saw flooding in streets, sidewalks, ballfields, parking lots, yards and basements. Multiple power outages were reported. One business parking lot in the Fiddlers Canyon area became filled with several inches of water during the peak of the deluge.

To the north at the Iron County Sheriff’s Office and Iron County Jail facility, floodwaters poured into the basement as law enforcement officers, staff members and other volunteers worked to mitigate the damage. Cedar City Fire Department personnel also arrived to help pump out water from the building.

“We had ceilings collapse in our medical office and two hallways,” said Lt. Shalon Shaver, the jail’s commander, who added that flooding also occurred in the facility’s booking room, the IT main server room and crime lab. 

Staff and volunteers work to place sandbags near basement doors of Iron County Sheriff’s Office and Iron County Jail facility, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 17, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News / Cedar City News

Shaver noted that the jail typically leaks and floods when it rains but added that Thursday’s event was more extreme.

“I have never seen actual rainwater make it into our second-story cells,” she said. “Today, rainwater made it into five cells.”

Meanwhile, Cedar City Hospital reportedly sustained flooding that affected the south side of the hospital, including areas around the operating room.

“The hospital is still operational and patients are completely safe and receiving any needed care,” said Becki Bronson, the hospital’s public affairs officer. “However, surgeries planned for tomorrow are being rescheduled and patients affected by this have been contacted.”

Hospital staff and others pitched in to help curtail the flooding, while Cedar City firefighters used pumps to move the water away from the building, Bronson added.

By 6 p.m. and thereafter, after the storm had passed and the sun was once again peeking through the crowds, workers were busy clearing ditches and culverts with shovels and heavy equipment, while electricians worked on damaged power lines and boxes.

At designated sandbag locations, residents gathered to fill up their own sandbags and take them home.

In addition to Iron County Road Department’s yard on the north side of Kitty Hawk Drive and Cedar City’s Public Works Building at 716 N. Airport Road, self-serve sandbags may also be obtained at the Iron County Animal Shelter, located at 3109 N. Iron Springs Road.

Flooding at Cedar City Hospital, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 17, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Intermountain Health, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City public information officer Gabrielle Costello said the north end of the city was the most impacted area, with police and fire personnel deployed to address immediate flooding concerns.

Costello said the various flood mitigation and drainage improvement projects the city has been working on over the past couple of years appear to have helped.

“Cedar City Public Works and Engineering Departments have been hard at work the last few months preparing for the monsoon season,” Costello said in a written statement. “After the storm on Thursday, it was evident many of their projects addressing city infrastructure were successful in diverting water, causing less devastation than in 2021.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons and one granddaughter. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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