Panguitch Lake Dam, while not imminently failing, has prompted an emergency situation that has Panguitch on its toes for evacuation.
Late Monday night it was discovered that Panguitch Lake Dam had transverse cracking on the upper portion. The discovery triggered closure of Highway 143 and close monitoring of the dam.
On Tuesday a team of experts determined that the situation was a Level 2 Emergency, meaning there was a potential for dam failure. At 6:56 Tuesday night, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office issued an urgent public safety announcement.
“While there is no immediate threat to public safety,” the alert read, “the situation could rapidly evolve. We are closely monitoring the dam and are prepared to escalate our response if necessary.”
Level 3 would indicate imminent dam failure. At this point evacuation of Panguitch and any endangered areas surrounding it would begin.
The National Weather Service also issued a flash flood watch “for the potential failure of Panguitch Lake Dam.” Flash flooding could affect Southern Mountains and Upper Sevier River Valleys in low-lying areas below the dam. Cities affected could include Panguitch, Brian Head, Koosharem, Alton and Circleville. The watch is in effect through Tuesday morning or until further notice.
Potential Evacuation Information
The sheriff’s office is urging locals to stay informed and be prepared in the event of an evacuation. It writes,
- Stay informed: Follow updates from official channels. Emergency management will communicate through all available resources, including reverse 911 calls, social media platforms and local news outlets.
- Evacuation plan: Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes. Should evacuation be necessary, residents should proceed east towards Hatch as the primary evacuation route.
- Emergency kits: Ensure emergency kits are ready and contain essential items such as water, food, medications and important documents.
- Inform others: Take some time to notify family, friends and neighbors in the area to ensure they are prepared and have any assistance that may be needed.
Sign up for emergency alerts here.
For more information and updates, visit the Garfield County website or the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
“We understand the concern and inconveniences this situation may cause and assure you that the safety of our community is our highest priority,” GCSO wrote. “We are committed to providing timely and accurate information as the situation evolves. Please know that if a failure occurs, we feel there is plenty of time to conduct an orderly evacuation before the water reaches Panguitch.”
– The Byway
Level 2 Emergency Alert
Feature image caption: The cracked and leaking portion of the Panguitch Lake Dam. Courtesy of Garfield County Sheriff’s Office via KUTV.
Read updates on the Panguitch Lake Dam in Panguitch Holds Community Meeting on Possible Failure of Panguitch Lake Dam and Much Improved Outlook for Panguitch Lake Dam Thursday.