Utah state officials are hurriedly trying to shore up a rural Utah dam after a 60-foot crack opened and sent water pouring into a creek and endangering the 1,700 residents of a downstream town.

Workers hurriedly tried to shore up a rural Utah dam after a 60-foot (18-meter) crack sent water pouring into a creek and endangering the 1,800 residents of a downstream town.

State and local leaders don’t think the Panguitch Lake Dam is in imminent danger of breaking open but have told residents to be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen. Emergency management officials passed out a list of evacuation procedures to worried residents at a Wednesday evening town meeting meant to mitigate panic.

  • MNByChoice
    24·
    8 months ago

    “This can be orderly,” he said. “If the notice is that the dam has broken or breached, we have time. The estimation is roughly two hours before those floodwaters are really inundating the town.”

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      27·
      8 months ago

      "Grab everything important to you that you want to keep, get in your car and keep driving and driving until you’re many miles away.

      You have two hours."

    • dan1101@lemm.ee
      18·
      8 months ago

      Wow. This is like assuming everyone is sitting at home ready to go on a moments notice.

      • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        8 months ago

        That’s literally why they are telling people to prepare now. The 2 hours notice is if the dam breaks, not two hours from right now.

        This is the warning so people can have things ready to go.