This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Gov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency for Utah on Thursday due to the recent flooding in Washington County and requested federal funds to help rebuild.

On Sept. 11, the Laub Dam broke and floods caused $3.9 million in damage to public infrastructure, such as gravel roads, sidewalks, sewer lines and golf courses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent a preliminary team to assess the damage in Washington County. If President Barack Obama approves a presidential disaster declaration, Utah would become eligible for federal assistance to make repairs and a FEMA team would return to identify ways to use the money.

Local agencies would have to match a quarter of the total federal assistance package.

The 66 homes and 18 businesses also damaged in the flooding are not eligible for the same federal assistance.