By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
There are some areas of Juab County where planning for a future natural disaster and ways to mitigate its impact would be wise.
Chelsea Bakatis, representing the Six County, is working on the development of such a pre-disaster plan that would design a mitigation plan for natural disasters which might occur in Juab County.
"Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG) is working together with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to put together a Six County Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) plan," said Bakatis.
One place that commissioners would like mitigation after the fact is in the Levan area where the burn scar has been responsible for floods that have damaged roads and farm land.
Bakatis said, while the planning she was involved in was working toward setting up long-range plans, she would make some calls on behalf of the county to see what could be done to mitigate the results of the flooding in Levan.
Another place, said Chad Winn, commission chairman, where something needs to be done to mitigate the impact of constant flooding is on State Road 132 in Nephi Canyon where a heavy rain often brings down flood water that closes the road to travel. The mountains are created of shale and they do not hold back stormwater.
Winn suggested that Bakatis also talk to Nephi City officials.
The city and county worked together on what to do if there was even a one hundred year flood.
The irrigation drainage ditches in the community have been filled in. Most of the water is channeled through the city until the water gets to the west side
"The city has a long-range plan because they hired an engineering firm to do a study," Winn said.
Bakatis said the mission of the SCAOG plan is to substantially and permanently reduce communities' vulnerability to natural hazards. The plan is to prompt sound public policy designed to protect citizens, critical facilities, infrastructure, private property and the natural environment.
The area is vulnerable to natural, technological and man-made hazards but the cost of response to and recovery from potential disasters can be lessened when attention is turned to mitigating impacts and effect before they occur or reoccur.
There should be zoning ordinances in high vulnerability areas and building codes that insure buildings can withstand damaging forces of nature and other hazards.
The State Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security have identified hazards to be analyzed by each county. The hazards include avalanche, dam failure, debris flow, drought, earthquake, flood, flash flooding, infestation, landslide, problem soils, summer storms, winter storms, tornado, urban and rural fires.
SCAOG which includes the counties of Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne was placed under contract by the Utah Division of Emergency Services to complete a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan for the areas served.
The plan is meant to fulfill federal, state and local hazard mitigation planning responsibilities and to promote pre and post disaster mitigation measures.
"Earthquakes could be a problem throughout Nephi," said Byron Woodland, commissioner.
There were many vulnerable buildings, such as the Old Gym, he said.
Rocky Ridge has had problems with wildland fire in the past.
"Mona has problems with flooding and with fires, just as Levan does," said Rick Carlton, commissioner. "Mona is also sitting near the fault line."
That is the same fault line that follows along Mount Nebo and also travels through Nephi. The location of the fault line threatens the freeway system in East Juab County.
"If I gave it some thought, I would think of things that we should discuss for the entire county," said Woodland. "What we are looking for right now is FEMA funding for Levan."
There are homes there that are threatened with continued flooding, he said.
Carlton said that the fire in the mountains near Levan had created a problem since there was no longer vegetation on those mountains to prevent further flooding. Crops in the valley had been destroyed by the wall of water that had washed debris on them.
The county needed to see that seeds were planted for vegetation on the mountain to prevent further flooding. That seeding of the burn scar needed to be done before fall while the seeds can still grow so that the plants will have established roots before spring, he said. He said that the mountain needed to be stabilized so the soil would stop washing down to the farms.
"We are in danger there for the next three to five years," said Woodland.
Winn said that Woodland would be the contact person for Bakatis on the project.
"He has taken the lead as we attempt to find ways to help the citizens of Levan," he said.
Fred Smalley, Juab County Deputy Sheriff, is the person in the county over Homeland Security, Disaster, Hazard and Emergency Response Manager for the county. Winn suggested that Bakatis contact Smalley.
He also suggested that she might want to work with the various cities in the county to get their input.
