Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini has declared a local state of emergency for the city of Millcreek due to potential flooding from a record snowfall year. According to Silvestrini, “We have an impending flooding crisis in our city.” 

The declaration allows the city manager and mayor to fund emergency expenses where they have not been previously budgeted. It also allows staff to delegate duties to city employees that are outside of their typical job responsibilities, such as clearing debris in the creeks or diverting traffic. Finally, the declaration gives the city the ability to apply for state and federal flood relief should they need it. 

The State of Utah and Salt Lake City have already declared preemptive states of emergency, which Silvestrini explains is “a means to unlock additional resources and be more flexible in responding to a crisis.” The declaration expires in 30 days, with the option to extend it by a vote of city councilmembers.

Salt Lake Valley residents got a wake-up call about the flood risk when a Sugar House neighborhood near the Millcreek boundary experienced major flooding in mid-April. The mayor declared a local emergency for Millcreek soon after. Within two days of the declaration, 400 volunteers rallied to fill 20,000 sandbags at an event in the public works yard on Wasatch Boulevard.

City staff expect flooding to peak during the week of June 3, with Neff’s Creek, Millcreek, and Big Cottonwood Creek being the most vulnerable areas.  

Silvestrini explained that the city is prepared, stating, “We have hardened our city with respect to sandbagging problem areas, we have equipment staged, and we are doing everything possible to be ready for any kind of flooding.” 

However, he warned that if the city experiences consistent 80-degree temperatures, “we are going to have a problem” due to rapid thawing. 

The declaration of a local state of emergency allows the city to prepare and allocate resources in advance to mitigate the impact of potential flooding. It is an important step in ensuring that the city is equipped to respond to any crisis that may arise. Residents are urged to take necessary precautions and stay informed about the situation as it unfolds.  λ