Counties talk flood damage in meeting with Cooney

The needs of Blaine, Hill and Liberty counties in the wake of massive flooding was discussed Monday in a meeting between Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, officials from all three counties and the Montana Department of Emergency Services in the Timmons Room of the Hill County Courthouse.

Representatives of the counties listed some extensive damage caused by the flooding, with Liberty County Commissioner Maureen Wicks saying one bridge south of Chester was estimated by a construction company to have sustained $1 million in damages.

“So it is safe to say that in Liberty County alone we have exceeded $1 million?” asked Mark Gruener, a field officer with Montana Disaster and Emergency Services.

Wicks said the county definitely did.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock signed an executive order April 18 that declared a state of emergency in the three counties along with Petroleum, Pondera, Valley and Toole counties and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation due to rapid snow melt and flooding that impacted the Milk River and Marias River basins.

Gruener had asked if any the counties had costs exceeding $1.44 million, the amount needed for a presidential disaster declaration.

Hill County Road and Bridge Supervisor Andy Hanson said that, so far, his department has spent $60,000. He said that he estimates the damage will be between $800,000 and $1.3 million.

Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest said that in his county more damage is being found as the water recedes.

He said relief funds from the Methodist and Presbyterian churches have helped people displaced by the flooding.

Blaine County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Haley Velk said no bridges have been lost, but some have been damaged and five roads have been totally washed out.

All culverts so far appear to have survived, she said.

Blaine County Road Supervisor Dirk Drugge said that washout took some aggregate off roads that had to be fixed.

Wicks said that in Liberty County, flooding along Cottonwood Creek took out two major culverts, leading to closure of roads, and that though water in the northern part of the county is receding, the water level in Lake Elwell behind Tiber Dam south of Chester is rising.

She added that some bridges are impassible, causing farmers, ranchers and people to have to take longer alternate routes to get to the land on which they farm or ranch. She said farmers are anxious to get seeding.

“So the economic impact right now is very severe,” Wicks said.

She said the county is trying to get the bridges up and running as soon as possible.

“We know long-term solutions will have to wait, but if we can get services to these people that is the most important thing,” Wicks said.

Hanson said the water has receded in Hill County but there are six roads his department cannot reach.

He said one road has four families on the other side who were unable to get off their property, but the Road Department has cleared a back road for them to use.

Four other roads are completely washed out, Hanson said.

He said no bridges have been lost but there has been some damage to culverts,

Hanson added that the county, though, has not had a chance to visit and assess damage on some county roads.

Hansen said they have done a few emergency fixes to roads.

Gruener said that if there is damage that represents a true emergency counties should go out and fix it, but it is not known how much money they will be able to get from the federal and state government to aide in repairs.

“That is a leap of faith you have to take,” he said.

Gruener said that all counties should keep detailed records including photos, for all their expenses from the flooding.