Flood News
State of Emergency Declared for Montana; Flooding Woes Deepen Across Much of Rockies
Central and Eastern Montana hardest hit as rain contributes to record snowmelt.By New West Editor, 5-24-11
Gov. Brian Scheitzer this week declared a state of emergency in Montana, where flooding has closed a 50-mile stretch of I-90, isolated communities in the central and eastern parts of the state and killed an elderly woman who fell into a flooded ditch.
Water continues rising, with rainfall adding to record snowmelt. The state emergency Coordination Center has received numerous declarations of emergencies from local and tribal jurisdictions. Perhaps hardest hit is the Crow Reservation near the Wyoming border, where those at Crow Agency who have not evacuated are essentially trapped by surrounding water. Potable water there is becoming scarce. The American Red Cross is assisting and several families are staying at high school located on the highest hill in the area.
Big Horn County Emergency Services Coordinator Ed Auker told the Associated Press the flooding was concentrated in the town’s business district and extended for several blocks.
“We’ve got water everywhere,” Auker said. “It took out the major infrastructure, which in Lodge Grass consists of the grocery store. They are pretty isolated until the water goes down.”
I-90 is closed from Hardin to the Wyoming border.
U.S. Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus filed a request for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
An 84-year-old woman caught in floodwaters washed downstream. Officials confirmed Monday she died from drowning. Two other people are missing, according to Reuters.
Agencies in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah are preparing to deal with similar flooding situations. In Utah, the AP reports, officials are preparing for major mudslides in the northern part of the state. At least four mudslides shut down roads over the weekend as high temperatures and thunderstorms pounded the Wasatch Front around Salt Lake City, the AP reports.
Newspapers report the Snake River in eastern Idaho and a river near Pocatello in the southeastern part of the state are at flood stage.
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