Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson Joins Us to Help Fill Sandbags

This morning Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson joined us at the Provo City Public Works Yard to fill sandbags, discuss local flood mitigation efforts, share best practices, and encourage Utahns to pay attention to updates from municipalities.

I am so thankful to our state visitors today for helping Provo reach its goal of 100,000 sandbags by May 1. Thank you to our employees and volunteers who have also responded to the call for help. Our volunteer numbers are impressive and prove how quickly a community can come together to make a difference. Just look at these numbers:

• 45,000 sandbags have been filled

• 1,000 sandbags have been deployed for use

• 411 volunteers have contributed to 1,255 volunteer hours

Areas of highest flood concern are being actively monitored and mitigated. These include:

• The frontal canyons of Rock, Slate and Little Rock Canyons and

• Properties adjacent to the Provo River.

• Provo’s Public Works department has been working on flood prevention efforts since February and their tireless efforts continue.

We’ve made significant infrastructure improvements, public works crews are actively mitigating high risk areas, protection efforts continue with sandbagging and residents are encouraged to follow updated information on our website and social media channels.

Provo is preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. While we can’t control Mother Nature, we can and must be as prepared as possible. Thank you again to all who have and will continue to join Provo as we prepare to protect our community.

Resources

Sandbag Availability

Public Works facility

1377 S 350 E

25-bag bundle

Bring a shovel

Flooding Questions

Public Works

Website: https://www.provo.org/departments/public-works/storm-water

Phone: (801) 852-6700

Email and Text Updates

City updates: provocity.into/signup

Emergency updates: alerts.utahcounty.gov

1984 Provo Flooding Facts

• The sandbag channel in Slate Canyon had over 90,000 sandbags, over 2,625 tons of sand, two vehicular bridges and eight pedestrian bridges.

• It took 1,455 volunteers a total of over 3,770 hours to construct the Slate Canyon channel.

• Additionally, over 3,280 volunteers have contributed a total of 5,190 hours in filling and moving other sandbags

Come See the Stained Glass Art Unveiled at the Provo Airport

Utah Lake is on colorful display with the unveiling of a stained-glass depiction

by local Provo artist, Jeanne Gomm. Unveiled on Wednesday, April 5, the window series is now on permanent display on the upper level of the new Provo Airport terminal.

The four stained glass windows are the first of two art installations commissioned from Provo artists, with a three-season mural to be completed in December. Provo is known for its creative community, making it an easy decision to feature our local talent. Provo City received 17 local artist submissions during its RFP process.

The airport was designed to showcase Provo—from its replication of downtown Center Street to the floor-to-ceiling windows displaying its natural beauty, with Utah Lake on the west and the Wasatch Mountains on the east.

Utah Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the West making it not only a vital wildlife ecosystem, but a natural recreational attraction. By preserving Provo’s agricultural history in art, we are paying homage to our past as our west side grows into its potential.

Artist Jeanne Gomm is a lifelong Provo resident who has shared a love of stained-glass artistry with her husband, David since 1983. Together they own a studio where they focus on teaching others within the community.

“Stained glass is not a lost art,” said Gomm. “As an art form, it transforms with light making it come alive. Whether cloudy or sunny, it provides a unique viewing experience.”

“We love the beauty of Utah Lake, so I sought to capture its vibrancy during sunrise and sunset,” said Gomm. In what became a ‘family affair,” not only did Gomm’s husband help with the six-month creation, but amongst the depictions of flora, fauna, and wildlife, Gomm included a small red piece of glass representing her daughter, who kayaks Utah Lake daily to clean up trash.

The stained-glass murals are open to the public with no boarding pass needed to view.

Preparing for the Worst, Hoping for the Best

Across the state, eyes are turned toward the snow-filled mountains with concerns of spring flooding. While the plentiful snowpack is a blessing for ongoing drought conditions, in this case, extremely high levels create issues if it melts too quickly, with weather conditions being an unknown factor.

High snow volumes are concerning as they create a greater likelihood Provo will experience some level of flooding. Public Works crews have been engaged in implementing their flood control plan since February, proactively clearing debris along the Provo River, cleaning out storm drains, and providing sandbags to residents.

Special attention is focused on the frontal canyons because of their high snowpack and flood potential due to mountain runoff. Snowpack-monitoring stations are measuring water content in Rock Canyon, Slate Canyon, and Little Rock Canyon as areas of concern due to greater than average volume.

Similarly, residents are strongly encouraged to protect their property, particularly those who have experienced past flooding. Recommended efforts include clearing gutters, sump pumps and drains, strategically placing sandbags, and if near an open waterway, removing debris from the property that could wash into the river. We also caution all to maintain a safe distance from fast-moving waters.

While there is no need for alarm, preparation is key. Not only are we protecting areas of concern in anticipation of this season’s runoff, but past infrastructure improvements such as Rock Canyon and Slate Canyon Detention Dams and the installation of numerous stormwater piping improvements will help substantially reduce the impacts of potential flooding.

Need Sandbags?

Visit Public Works at 1377 S 350 E to pick up a bundle of 25 sandbags. Residents will need to bring their own shovel to fill sandbags.

Have Questions?

Visit the Public Works website at provo.org/departments/public-works/storm-water for updated flood preparations and sandbag information. Or call Public Works at 801-852-6700.

Sign up for updates

City Updates: provocity.info/signup

Emergency Updates: Alerts.utahcounty.gov

Whatever this season brings, let’s help each other get through it safe and sound!