Governor issues flooding disaster declaration for Hi-Line and central Montana

Billings Gazette

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for areas in eastern and south central Montana impacted by runoff-swollen rivers and flooding last month. 

The Milk climbed to 27.94 feet at Tampico, just shy of the record of 28 feet set in 2011. Flood stage is 23 feet.

“Runoff from recent rainfall and snowmelt has compromised critical infrastructure and roads in Montana,” Gianforte said in a statement. “This order will help impacted communities rebuild and get back on their feet.”

Meagher, Valley, Hill, Liberty, Blaine, Daniels, and Park Counties, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and the towns of Glasgow and Nashua enacted emergency or disaster declarations in response to the flooded conditions; several of them reported extensive damage to infrastructure.

The governor’s disaster declaration will allow affected communities to utilize “all necessary state government services, equipment, and suppliers” with goal of furthering “the efforts to protect health and safety and to preserve the lives, property, and resources of the people of the State of Montana.”

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The declaration also frees up the state to “expend funds from the general fund to meet contingencies

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