“This is just the start.” Bingham County expects a lot more flooding before season ends

Update: Bingham County has closed a number of roads for safety because of flooding. Driving down the affected roads could be very dangerous. Here is a list of the currently closed roads:

2800 West 1000 South, Springfield 1900 West 500 North, Springfield 2700 South 1100 West, Aberdeen 350 South 1100 West, Blackfoot 1400 South 2794 West, Aberdeen 1800 South 2900 West, Aberdeen 3000 West 1400-1500 South, Aberdeen 3100 West 1400-1500 South, Aberdeen 1600 West 300-400 North, Blackfoot 300 North 1400-1500 West, Blackfoot 900 W Munson Loop (One mile north of Hwy 26), Blackfoot 1500 West 400-500 North, Blackfoot

Original Story: Another day, another flooded roadway. That’s what it feels like to folks in Bingham County after a series of storms on top of water-dense snow creates pockets of flooding throughout the entire county.

Right now, the western part of the county stretching from about 600 N to around 2000 S has several closed roads due to water pouring out of flooded fields.

“For safety reasons, for hydroplaning on the roads, and for the softness of the dirt roads, we just need people to be cautious when they’re out there on these roads,” said Whitney Manwaring, a Bingham County Commissioner.

County officials even had to rescue a family out of a trailer home after the water in their yard approached their front door step. “I actually used my truck to get the people out of the trailer and it was up to my doors to get them out of the house,” said Manwaring.

The family was able to stay the night with relatives and can now go back home, but only after authorities cut open the nearby road to allow the water to escape. “We decided the best option was to open the road up where the culvert was to release the pressure,” said Manwaring. “And now, probably four hours later, this water’s probably dropped a foot.”

The story is very similar across the rest of the region as dozens of homes have created sandbag barriers for their property.

Bingham County officials ask people to avoid driving through flooded roadways if possible. They’re also working to mark as many hazards as possible for drivers.

“If you see flooding or see a corroded road and it isn’t marked, call the county dispatch,” said Manwaring. Bingham County Dispatch can be reached at 208-785-1234.