Show Heavy Rains on Elges of Moab fil Canyons With Unexpected Flash Floods R floods and nd torrential rains rain flooded dry washes and made giant rivers of ot tiny streams lIng travel and communications and disrupting watt water lines throughout southeastern Utah and the western slope of ot Colorado Monday and Tuesday Shades of ot 1918 said Moab residents of the flood that roar roar- ed cd through town In Mill Creek about p. p m. m The spectacular torrent was reminiscent of the August 2 1918 flood the worst id In Moab's history Chief damage caused by the flood was the destruction of water waterlines waterlines waterlines lines crossing Mill Creek and furnishing water to the homes and businesses on the west side of the creek Water was cut off until un til UI midnight when service was temporarily restored Moab's volunteer fire department department depart depart- ment answered a call from the city for aid in restoring service at 11 p. p m. m One hour later a temporary line had been connected connect connect- ed with tho lines on the opposite side BIde by crews of firemen and city employees Water service was returned to normal by Two o'clock the Ute next day Equipment was brought In by the city to restrain the waters of the creek while repairs were made The flash flood rolled two ton boulders along its course and tore out culverts near the Moab Fruit Growers packing shed and on the new truck route Culverts were carried one half mile by bythe bythe bythe the rising waters A restraining wall near the U. U S. S Highway bridge was undermined by the flood which at times threatened to exceed its bounds at the top of the Ute restraining wall The last comparable floods in 1954 previous to the bridging of the creek on the highway The 1918 flood destroyed farms and tore homes from their foundations foundations foundations foun foun- to be recorded as the most destructive flood in Moab's history I. I tOniy Only 02 of an Inch of rainfall rain fall was experienced In Moab Meal Monday with an n additional onal 04 M falling Tuesday Tuesdays However mas areas east and north of here received heavy rains The flood In Mill Milt MillCreek MillCreek Creek originated jn in the slick rock areas north and east of ot the Grand county airport In what Is known as Stocks Stock's Hole Miles of slickrock slick slick- rock poured their run runoff Into Mill Creek In a few short hours The storm moved from the east eastside eastside eastside side of the La Sal mountains north lo to o the Arches national monument monument mon mona where It again filled washes to the thi brim and destroyed roads within the monument Merle Win Win- bourne Arches road supervisor said that repairs were being hampered hampered hampered ham ham- by storms following the Ute cloudburst as the washes were running water from the slightest trickle of ot rain Arches Superintendent Dates Bates Wilson said that about four cars were trapped in the tM monument by the flash floods about one o o'clock 0 clock Tuesday One car was wu rescued rescued rescued res res- cued when the first flood subsided ed but a little later Courthouse wash was running feet wide and at a tremendous depth and velocity Roadwork started Immediately Immediately immediately Im Im- mediately after the first storm Courthouse wash poured a stream Into the Colorado all of Tuesday At times the flood cross crossed ed completely across the river pushing its deep red waters against the opposite bank Highway traffic was held heM up on several severa occasions by water and silt slit cov covering the road Water and mud blocked the road at two spots above the Uranium Reduction Reduction tion company mill and at the gap where construction has been underway underway underway un un- derway by James Reed Construction Construction Construction tion company Water depth did not halt traffic but heavy silt slit trapped lighter vehicles Two hours delay was reported as a result of the flood Elsewhere in Grand county U.S. U.S. U.S. U. U S. S Highway 50 6 was blocked when flood waters tore out a abrIdge abridge abridge bridge detour on a construction Job six miles east of Thompsons W. W W. W Clyde Construction company company com corn pany crews were on hand to open the road as quickly as possible but traffic was was' halted between 1030 p. p m. m Monday and a.m. a.m. a.m. a. a m. m Tuesday Showers have been threatening during the remainder of the week I and heavy cloud ups build-ups indicate indi c cate te t that at more inore rainy weather is In the offing |