Bingham County declared as flood disaster area
Update 3:45 p.m.: Bingham County’s flooding is getting worse. As county commissioners adopted a flood disaster resolution, county residents are trying to use the free resources to get an edge up on the rising water.
“The biggest issue is these fields that are flooding. Where it seems to be the worst is where the fall wheat was planted, and the frost just hasn’t gone out of the ground,” said Bingham County Commissioner Whitney Manwaring.
Bingham County and the Shelley Fire Department are making sure the flooded homes are the first priority.
“Just kind of all hands on deck. We’ve had farmers and the county — everybody is just pitching. And seeing what we can do to get stuff pumped away from things or sandbagged away from things. We are trying to find avenues to put it like in the canals. And we’re just trying to put it wherever it can go that’s kind of downstream,” said Chief Randy Adams.
But there will be more flooding to come in the next few weeks.
“So we’ll go from these field floodings around the houses, and then we’ll have probably some flooding coming off the desert. And then in May — the first part of June — then we’ll worry about the flooding on the river with the runoff in the hills,” Manwaring said.
The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office wants you to be cautious when you come across a significant amount of water on the roads — sometimes you can’t really gage how deep it is. Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult. 12 inches of water can carry away a small car. And 18 to 24 inches can carry away larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs.
Original story 11:19 a.m.: Bingham County was declared as a flood disaster area Friday morning. The Bingham County Commissioners had a special Emergency Meeting to review county resolutions and decide on adopting a Disaster Declaration Resolution. The county is working on what to do about the multiple reports of flooding in the area that is either causing injury or damage to property.
Current road closures:
1200 N between 1150 E and 1200 E 1200 E to 1150 N
Sandbags can be picked up at four locations in Bingham County — bring your own shovels:
Firth – Behind Collets Bar located at 132 S. Main Shelley – Fire Station located at 585 W. Fir Blackfoot – Moreland Park located at 740 W. Aberdeen – Stokes located at 185 N. Main
According to Bingham County, “The Road & Bridge crew is doing everything that they can to keep roads safe for the public… Due to the flooding and road wash outs, the Bingham County Road & Bridge Department is requesting that motorists be cautious in their travels and be aware of flooding, hydroplaning and potholes.”
