ORANGEVILLE, UT — Floodwaters have forced residents from homes in Emery County as heavy storms move across southern Utah on Saturday. The Emery County Sheriff’s Office said a Red Cross shelter has been set up at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Orangeville for people who need temporary housing.
Multiple homes and roadways were flooded, and officials said damage is still being assessed. The National Weather Service has issued several flood warnings across the region as storms continue to sweep through the state. Residents from St. George to Price are being told to stay alert and make backup plans if they expected to be outdoors.
Flood warnings remain in several counties
The weather service said parts of Carbon, Emery and Sanpete counties remain under flood warnings until 5:45 p.m. Saturday. Those warnings came after reports of flooded roads and creeks running very high.
Kane County is under a flash flood warning until 10:45 p.m. Saturday. Officials are urging people in the affected areas to keep several ways to receive warnings and to consider changing outdoor plans if storms move into their neighborhood. The weather service said the threat stretches across a wide part of southern Utah as the system keeps moving.
The warnings are part of a broader round of storm impacts that has already led to flooding in communities and concern about more runoff as rain continues falling over vulnerable areas.
Damage reports expand beyond Emery County
The storm also caused problems in Millard County, where sheriff Steve O’Camb said winds tipped over 34 train cars outside Lynndyl. Photos posted by the sheriff’s office showed the rail cars on their sides and off the tracks.
Another video showed large trees uprooted near homes, with windows blown in. O’Camb also said deputies received a report of a house that lost its roof. County agencies are still sweeping the area to check for additional damage and to make sure no other hazards were left behind after the storm.
Officials have not said whether anyone was hurt in the Millard County damage. Crews are continuing to evaluate the full impact of the storm as more information comes in from the affected areas.
What residents are being told now
For people in southern Utah, the immediate concern is staying aware of fast-changing weather and flood conditions. The weather service said residents should be ready to change plans quickly, especially for outdoor events, travel and recreation in low-lying areas or near creeks.
Anyone displaced by flooding in Emery County can go to the shelter in Orangeville. Local officials said the situation could continue to change through the evening as additional storms move across the region and crews respond to flood reports, roadway issues and other storm damage.
Authorities have not given a final damage total, and more updates are expected as agencies finish checking flooded neighborhoods and storm-hit roads. For now, warnings remain active and residents across several counties are being told to stay prepared for more heavy rain and runoff.
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