Local Flood Risks That Salt Lake City, UT, Property Owners Should Be Aware Of

Water damage can result from a variety of causes, but one of the most stressful and devastating sources of water damage is flooding. Salt Lake City is no stranger to incidents of flooding. With a history of over twenty years of serving local home and business owners, All Pro Services, a Midvale-based damage restoration company, has helped many clients recover from the destruction caused by floods. To help property owners better understand the local flood history and forecast, All Pro Services is highlighting the flooding risks for Salt Lake City and the surrounding area.

What Are the Flooding Risks for the Salt Lake City Area?

According to the Utah Geological Survey, “Flooding is the overflow of water onto lands that are normally dry and is the most commonly experienced natural hazard. Desert terrain, snowmelt, and valleys and canyons surrounded by steep mountainous slopes can all contribute to the risk of flooding. When flooding occurs, erosion and considerable deposition of soil and debris can cause additional damage and other hazards. Historically, flooding is the most prevalent, costly, and destructive (on an annual basis) hazard in Utah.”

The report goes on to note, “Sixteen major flood events since 1923 have caused over $1.3 trillion in damage, and to date, flooding is Utah’s most costly geologic hazard to the economy.”

Data from FloodFactor, an online resource for determining the flood risks for locations in the United States, reveals that Salt Lake City property owners are projected to experience approximately $1.5 million in flood-related property damage this year. In addition, an estimated 1,030 properties “have a 20% chance of some amount of water reaching their building in 2021.”

In terms of historical flooding, Salt Lake City’s most devastating flood event in recent memory occurred in 1983. Streets had to be turned into temporary rivers to divert the floodwaters, and the flooding threatened homes, buildings, and landmarks. The disaster resulted in $34 million in damage within Salt Lake County alone, and across the state of Utah, property damage costs reached approximately $200 million.

A local news outlet explains the factors that led to the historic flooding: “Unlike floods caused by immediate heavy downpours, the 1983 flood was the result of abnormally high precipitation totals for several months and culminated into weeks of issues. The 1981 and 1982 precipitation totals were off the charts, according to the Utah Department of History. For example, the September 1982 rain total was about 10 times higher than the average, recording a record total of 4.35 inches of rain that month. The damp conditions lingered into the fall and winter, creating mudslides and flooded creeks in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons. In March and April 1983, more precipitation records were broken, creating hazards to the Salt Lake valley with the moisture levels exceeding capacity.”

Who Can Salt Lake City Area Property Owners Turn to After Flood Damage?

The team of professionals at All Pro Services is proud to provide flood and water damage restoration services to clients in the local area. Having all the proper insurance and licenses means that the company is equipped to safely and successfully mitigate a water disaster by drying, cleaning, disinfecting, and restoring the property quickly and efficiently.

Flood mitigation is performed by trained and certified Water Mitigation Technicians and is actively monitored and managed by a highly experienced Project Manager. Both technicians and project managers engage in an ongoing professional development training program and participate in industry-leading training and certification courses on water damage restoration. The use of personal protective gear and state-of-the-art water detection, extraction, and drying equipment protects the safety of both clients and technicians.

The water damage restoration experts are available 24/7/365, and All Pro Services offers free water and sewage damage inspections year-round.

A spokesperson for All Pro Services says, “We take pride in offering our community a service as important as professional water damage mitigation, cleanup, and restoration. At the core of our culture is our desire and commitment to be a contribution to our community and to serve when disaster strikes.”

To learn more about water damage restoration in Salt Lake City, UT, contact All Pro Services by phone at (385)855-2252 or reach out to the company by email at office@allproutah.com.