Emergency Operations move to Level 3 readiness

Disaster declarations have already been signed by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter to deal with flood-related problems in Clark and Madison Counties. The Idaho Emergency Operations Center has activated to “Level 3” to help deal with spring flooding.

As previously reported, Madison County sustained damage to about 200 miles of county roads. There were 100 washouts and one critical road was completely unpassable. Another road has isolated one residence from emergency services and two homes have been flooded.

In Clark County, there was significant flooding west and northwest of Dubois in the Medicine Lodge, Indian, and Crooked Creek areas. Highway 22 was reopened Saturday, but several county roads remain closed, according to the Idaho Emergency Operations Center.

Blaine County Commissioners have enacted a local emergency disaster declaration. Various roads and infrastructure within the county have been damaged.

In Bonneville County, three roads are completely lost, and another twelve are damaged due to sheet flooding.

And in Caribou County, the city of Bancroft began to see standing water backing up into streets. The flooding was due to drainage canals that did not flow at a high enough rate. City crews are working on the problem and are attempting to redirect water away from populated areas.