Meg Mayer's Memories of 1983 Flood
Meg Mayer shared with me her memories of the Bountiful City flood of 1983.
Flood waters began appearing about May 26 in Davis County with over flowing streams washing debris onto streets and yards. Some streets began to be blocked off and everyone was helping to fill sandbags to save people’s property. On Sunday May 30 all church meetings were cancelled except Sacrament meeting where we were told to go help fill sand bags and shovel debris from the streams. The Bigelow’s house was virtually on a precipice formed by Barton Creek out of control. Flood debris had closed busy 4th East in front of their house. For 4 days we worked and prayed to keep things under control. Then the night of Monday May 31 the power went off at 11:00 pm. It became eerily quiet and we could smell something earthy and strange. There was a rushing sound north of us by Stone Creek. Suddenly a loud speaker was going up 350 and 250 North telling everyone to evacuate immediately! Our friends from 250 North came over to our house on 150 No. because we had not been told to evacuate. Several very scared people sat in our living room trying to imagine what had happened. After a while the people on 250 were allowed to go back home. Then after a scary night of warnings and helicopters shining bright lights on us, at dawn I walked north to see what had happened. 4th North was a sea of mud. Two cars were crosswise in the middle of the road with mud up to their door handles. Further inspection found homes on 350 North with basements full of mud and mud spread all up and down the street. It took weeks to clean up the mess and calm the creeks. Our whole Stake area and surrounding area was a war zone we could hardly even navigate. Kids shoveled mud along with the adults. It was a scary time as we looked at our mountains and worried what else could come down on us. One lady who was here from Florida said, “I never thought I would see a flood on the side of a mountain!” Meanwhile other areas of Salt Lake and Davis County, wherever there was a stream, suffered.
One of the things that really stood out to me in these memories was neighbors being there for each other in the middle of a disaster. Again, it brings to mind Alma at the Waters of Mormon, "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in." That verse is demonstrated in these words, "Our friends from 250 North came over to our house on 150 No. because we had not been told to evacuate. Several very scared people sat in our living room trying to imagine what had happened."
A topographical map of the mountains east of Bountiful help us appreciate from where the flood waters came and the two creeks that impacted our ward.
I lived in Stone Creek Village Apartments and my kids would play in a little wooded area between Viewmont High School and a cemented creek. I did not realize that my apartment complex was named after the creek that ran through the back of it.
I've hiked up through Holbrook Canyon scores of time, once unknowingly leading some of our cub scouts right past a huge rattle snake that was out sunning on the cool morning (I was leading out and one of the dad's at the rear spotted it. We were much more careful passing it as we went back down the canyon, with a leader, standing guard, pointing it out to each boy as they walked past it). Of course I've noticed Holbrook Creek, but not given it much thought beyond its beauty, both visually and audibly, and how it cools down parts of the hike. A question for the Bountiful Old Timers, does Holbrook Creek become Barton Creek once it exits the canyon? Or is it always Barton Creek, even up Holbrook Canyon?
The mountains and canyons east of us make life in this area possible. I am sure that the many creeks in this area attracted the first settlers to what would become Bountiful. It is good to be reminded how connected we are to the land and waters all around us.
Thanks, Sister Mayer, for sharing. I'd love to post more stories from the flood of 1983 as well as more stories about the history of the 9th Ward, if you'd like to type them up and share.
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