2022 Montana floods explained

2022 Montana floods
Duration:June 13, 2022 – June 24, 2022
Damages:$29 million
Affected:Montana, Yellowstone National Park
Fatalities:1

In June 2022, the U.S. state of Montana was hit by heavy, damaging floods in multiple major watersheds including the Yellowstone River.[1] Heavy rain and melting snow over the weekend June 10–13 caused large areas of Yellowstone National Park to be evacuated.[2] On June 14, the water plant in Billings was temporarily shut down.[3] Many houses were damaged as a result, and a number of roads and bridges were destroyed by floodwaters.[4]

The National Weather Service said that heavy rain on top of melting mountain snow pushed the Yellowstone, Stillwater and Clarks Fork rivers to record levels and triggered rock and mudslides. The Montana National Guard said that 87 people had been airlifted by helicopter to safety.[5] Cities and towns affected include Gardiner, Fromberg, Livingston, Red Lodge.[6] On Monday, June 13 Governor Greg Gianforte verbally authorized Lt Governor Kristen Juras to declare a state of emergency.[1] [7] Governor Gianforte was vacationing in Italy, and returned Thursday, June 16.[8] On June 16, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Montana.[9]

On June 18, it was reported that heavier flooding is expected to reach Billings and other areas in Eastern Montana.[10] The flooding so far has reportedly caused $29 million in damage.[11]

Multiple watersheds impacted

Yellowstone River headwaters

The Carbella Bridge, which crossed the Yellowstone River was destroyed.[12]

Stillwater River

Homes near Absarokee were threatened when the Stillwater River flooded, eroding the riverbanks.[13] Extensive flooding of the river also affected Nye and Fishtail.[14]

Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone

On June 13, Rock Creek, a tributary of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone, flooded Red Lodge, Montana damaging roads, bridges and buildings.[15] The flood caused severe damage to infrastructure on the north side of the park including the north entrance road, wastewater systems, facilities, and trails.[16]

Missouri River headwaters

Fishing Access Sites along the Madison River near Ennis, Montana and several roads near tributary creeks were closed due to flooding in the Madison River watershed. The Ruby River in the Jefferson River watershed experienced flooding, closing roads above and below Ruby Reservoir near Alder, Montana.[17]

Flathead River

A 43-year-old man was killed in a rafting incident on the Flathead River on June 21.[18] High water levels and debris have reportedly made the river dangerous.[19]

Yellowstone National Park

On June 14, 2022, Yellowstone National Park shut down all of its entrances,[20] and began evacuation of approximately 10,000 visitors currently in the park. The National Park Service had stated that many parts, including the North part of Yellowstone, would be closed for "a substantial length of time".[21] [22] Flood damage, mostly road washouts and mudslides, were extensive on the Yellowstone River headwaters of Soda Butte Creek, Lamar River and Gardner River. Multiple road washouts in the Gardner River canyon made the park inaccessible from the Northern Entrance road, including park administrative, maintenance and concessionaire facilities in Gardiner.

Notes and References

  1. News: Acting governor Juras signs disaster declaration with Gianforte out of country . June 14, 2022 . Montana Public Radio. June 16, 2022.
  2. News: Parts of Montana and Yellowstone Park are submerged by flooding . June 16, 2022 . Sky News . en.
  3. Web site: Billings . June 16, 2022 . Billings . en . June 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220620080809/https://ci.billings.mt.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2333 . dead .
  4. News: Jason . Hanna . Amir . Vera . Elizabeth . Wolfe . David . Williams . Paradise . Afshar . Parts of Yellowstone National Park may stay closed for 'substantial length of time' after severe flooding . June 16, 2022 . CNN.
  5. News: 87 people rescued in Montana as severe flooding leaves Yellowstone "dramatically" changed . June 16, 2022 . CBS News . en-US.
  6. News: June 13, 2022 . Yellowstone National Park closes entrances, residents evacuate Red Lodge as floods sweep across Montana . June 16, 2022 . Montana Public Radio . en.
  7. News: Prevost . Ruffin . June 15, 2022 . Rare Yellowstone closure from historic floods spells hardship for 'gateway' towns . en . Reuters . June 16, 2022.
  8. News: Montana governor was vacationing in Italy when his state was flooded . June 18, 2022 . NBC News . June 17, 2022.
  9. Web site: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Montana . FEMA.gov . June 16, 2022.
  10. News: June 17, 2022 . Yellowstone: Historic floods could reach eastern Montana . en-GB . BBC News . June 19, 2022.
  11. Web site: Montana governor vacationed in Italy while Yellowstone faced catastrophic flooding that caused $29 million in damage . June 18, 2022 . June 27, 2022 . Yahoo! News . en-GB.
  12. Web site: Bergan . Joshua . UPDATED: Historic Yellowstone River Flooding Damages Yellowstone Park and Paradise Valley . June 27, 2022 . Fly Fisherman . June 17, 2022 . en.
  13. Web site: June 14, 2022 . Absarokee homes submerged as flooding erodes Stillwater River banks . August 2, 2022 . KTVQ . en.
  14. Web site: June 13, 2022 . Roads, homes impacted by Stillwater River flooding . August 2, 2022 . KTVQ . en.
  15. News: Hubbard . Halisia . July 12, 2022 . How a Montana community is faring after devastating floods hit the area last month . en . NPR . July 27, 2022.
  16. Web site: Yellowstone Flooding: One Year Later (U.S. National Park Service) . 2024-04-18 . www.nps.gov . en.
  17. News: Madison County Emergency Operations Center warning people of possible flooding with warmer weather . Depping . Meridith . June 16, 2022 . KURL8.com.
  18. Web site: Buchli . Zoe . Man dies in Flathead River rafting accident . June 26, 2022 . missoulian.com . June 22, 2022 . en.
  19. Web site: Conditions remain dangerous on Flathead River . June 22, 2022 . June 26, 2022 . Yahoo! News . en-US.
  20. Web site: Sanchez . Elizabeth Wolfe,Claudia Dominguez,Ray . June 14, 2022 . Dozens evacuated as unprecedented flooding forces Yellowstone National Park to close all entrances . June 17, 2022 . CNN . en.
  21. Web site: Jason Hanna, Amir Vera, Elizabeth Wolfe, David Williams and Paradise Afshar . Parts of Yellowstone National Park may stay closed for 'substantial length of time' after severe flooding . June 15, 2022 . June 17, 2022 . CNN.
  22. News: Brown . Matthew . After Yellowstone, floodwaters menace Montana's largest city . June 18, 2022 . AP News . June 15, 2022.

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