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Area governments declare disasters

Assessment ongoing, action by governor pending

Governments throughout north-central Montana again are dealing with massive flood damages and could be looking to the state and, potentially, federal government for assistance.

The government of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, the Hill County Commission, Blaine County Commission and Chouteau County Commission all declared disasters last week after two weeks of rain dropped between what would normally be half — or more — than the total amount of rain that falls in a year.

The public information officer for Fort Belknap Indian Reservation could not be reached for comment by printing deadline this morning.

The flooding is a flashback to 2011, when rain and melting snow drenched the area, leading to local, state and federal disaster declarations, and 2010, when the flooding also led to presidential disaster declarations for Rocky Boy and Hill County.

The governments have not yet completed all of the work to repair the damage incurred in 2010, with approval of federal funds still not completed in some projects.

Work done to repair the past damage, and to prepare for future floods including this year’s, appears to have helped.

Joe Parenteau, Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator, said the estimated damage in Beaver Creek Park and lower Beaver Creek and along Big Sandy Creek, Bullhook Creek, and other creeks, is estimated at more than $200,000.

Initial estimates of damage to county roads is more than $100,000, and assessment of damage still is ongoing.

Blaine County DES Coordinator Haley Gustitis said the estimated damage in Blaine County as of last Wednesday was $200,000.

Information from Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy about flooding damages was not available as of printing deadline this morning.

Rocky Boy alone suffered some $30 million in damages in the 2010 flood, and widespread flooding across the state in 2011 cost millions, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency providing assistance to individual property owners as well as local governments.

Between May 15 and June 3, the National Weather Service reporting station at the Havre City-County Airport recorded nearly 7 inches of rain, with several days recording record 24-hour amounts of precipitation.

The normal amount for the entire year at that station is less than 12 inches.

Beaver Creek Park Superintendent Chad Edgar reported the park received 13 ½ inches in that same time.

The disaster declarations have been filed with the state Disaster and Emergency Services division, which will forward that information to Gov. Steve Bullock.

Darrell Stafford, DES coordinator for Liberty and Toole counties, said those areas did not receive flooding damage and have not declared disasters.

 

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