State Disaster Declaration for Seven Idaho counties

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NEWS RELEASE
Idaho Office of Emergency Management
For immediate release March 21, 2017
Contact: Elizabeth Duncan
(208) 258-6595 eduncan@imd.idaho.gov

Flooding, Landslides, Avalanches Leads to State Disaster Declarations for Seven Idaho Counties

 

BOISE – Idaho Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter has signed State Disaster Declarations for seven north central and northern Idaho counties currently managing flooding-related issues associated with snowmelt and ongoing precipitation. Residents in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah and Shoshone counties are preparing for, or responding to, flooding, landslides and avalanches.

Water levels along the Coeur d’ Alene River, the St. Joe River, and numerous other bodies of water within each of the counties in the state declaration, have risen dramatically, causing widespread flooding, mudslides, water over roads, damaged levees and flooding of homes and basements. Two homes have received significant damage due to mudslides.

The Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) continues working with the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and our state agency partners to ensure that requests for assistance from the counties affected are met quickly and efficiently.

 

mudslide
(Photo: Mudslide over Harmony Heights Road near Orofino in Clearwater County)

A total of 25 Idaho counties currently have local declarations related to either snowfall or flooding-related events.

The Idaho Emergency Operations Center (IDEOC) remains activated at Heightened Awareness due to widespread spring flooding destruction. For a daily statewide synopsis of issues relating to this latest state declaration, please visit the IOEM website. https://ioem.idaho.gov/WebFiles/SituationReports/websitrep.pdf

 

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The Idaho Office of Emergency Management is a Division of the Idaho Military Division. The services we provide are to facilitate emergency management in Idaho, and to assist neighboring states. The men and women of this Division are dedicated to their mission of protecting the lives and property of the people of Idaho, as well as preserving the environmental and the economic health of Idaho.

High water can cause significant hazards. Residents are reminded to avoid low-water crossings and not attempt to cross water-covered roads.

“Turn Around Don’t’ Drown.”

 

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