Governor declares flood emergency
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| May 27, 2011 |
Idaho Governor Butch Otter has declared a
Statewide Declaration of Emergency because of
statewide flooding and the potential for record
runoff.
The declaration, approved today, brings the
availability of state resources and rapid
response to support impacted areas.
As of 11 a.m. Friday Bingham and Jefferson
counties are the only counties listed under the
State Declaration. If conditions warrant
additional counties may be added. The statewide
declaration is a proactive step to reduce
response times and to allow the state to support
local jurisdictions in preparations that will
help prevent damages from the expected record
flows.
Areas that have flooded or are approaching flood
stage in North Idaho include St. Maries,
Cataldo, Bonners Ferry, Rose Lake, Pend Oreille
River, Lake Pend Oreille and Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Flood prone conditions include heavy
accumulations of snowpack and historically high
snow water equivalent measurements. Early
forecasts indicate that this will be one of the
top five years on record. Snake River Basin
water volumes are forecasted to be similar to
1997. Emergency managers are concerned that
extreme runoff flows and subsequent rapid
flooding could damage property and
infrastructure. The declaration signed today
enables the state to support implementation of
local mitigation measures to prevent damage from
the anticipated severe flooding.
The Bureau of Homeland Security has coordinated
the distribution of sandbags and pumps
throughout the state to help support local
jurisdictions in their preparation efforts. |
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