Yellowstone Times

Carbon County Floods Daily Update June 24, 2022 10:50am

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Flood Information Line: 406-426-2425  

Email: carboncountyfloods@gmail.com 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8161/               

Facebook: @CarbonAlert                                                                                

Webpage: carbonalert.org/incidents                                      

Interactive Map: https://bit.ly/39E7lTZ

Start date: June 12, 2022                                                      

Location: Carbon County

Cause: Snow melt and precipitation

This is the final Update from the Incident Management Team. Information going forward will be posted on CarbonAlert.org/incidents and @CarbonAlert on Facebook.

Team Transition: The Western Montana All Hazards Incident Management Team is transitioning out and management of ongoing operations will move to county and local resources. Continuing information can be found at on the web: carbonalert.org/incidents and on Facebook: @CarbonAlert. The information phone and email will remain active and someone will respond to inquiries as soon as they can. Friday will be the last update on Inciweb.

FEMA Individual Assistance Update: Carbon County residents are not currently eligible for individual assistance from FEMA but the process for this declaration is well underway. FEMA Damage assessment teams were in Fromberg Thursday and are in Red Lodge Friday collecting additional information for the Individual Assistance application. These teams are in town for assessments only. 

Financial Assistance: The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for up to $50 for emergency funding to people directly impacted by the recent floods, who live in the flood zone in Carbon County. They are investigating additional ways to deliver assistance. You can apply at RLACF.org or contact them at 406-446-2820.

Dos and Don’ts for recovery after a flood:

Do:

● File a claim with your insurance company.

● Carbon County residents are not currently eligible for individual assistance from FEMA. The process for this declaration is well underway and we expect information on this soon. You can call the FEMA Helpline at toll-free 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. 

● Inspect for structural damage before entering your home. (This is up to homeowners to arrange and pay for)

● Throw away wet contents such as bedding, carpeting and furniture. These items may be a health hazard due to mold. If you need to keep a sample of damaged carpet or drywall for an inspector, it should be about 12 inches by 12 inches.

● Report flood damage to local officials (See des.mt.gov)

● Take photographs of flood damage. The insurance company may want to see these.

● Keep recovery-related receipts. FEMA, SBA or the insurance company may want to see these.

● Submit a completed application for a low-interest disaster loan if you have been referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters that have been impacted as a result of the disaster. 

Don’ts:

● Don’t wait for visits from FEMA or insurance adjusters before cleaning up flood damage and starting repairs.

● Don’t assume only homeowners can apply for help. Renters may qualify for assistance too.

Mental Health: Carbon County Public Health has arranged for mental health resources to be available. If you feel you would benefit, the Red Lodge Mental Health Center has a list of local and regional therapists.  Please call for a referral: 406 446-2500. Free short-term options as well as help with copayments available.

For Veterans – The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a mobile VA Clinic at the Carbon County Fairgrounds which can help Veterans and their families with issues related to Post Traumatic Stress and Trauma. Hours are currently flexible.

Scams: Following a natural disaster, many businesses, voluntary, faith-based, and community-based organizations, government agencies and committed citizens come together to try and meet the needs of the affected individuals and communities. Unfortunately, disasters often bring out criminals who prey on the needs of disaster survivors by offering fraudulent services.

If you suspect anyone – an inspector, disaster survivor, or someone posing as one of these – of fraudulent activities, call the FEMA toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866- 720-5721, or Carbon County Sheriff’s Office at 406-446-1234

Mold and Mildew: Mildew (mold in early stage) and molds grow on wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, insulation, decaying leaves and other organic materials. Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours after water exposure.  Remove debris with possible mold contamination carefully with appropriate PPE as mold spores will be released when disturbed. To protect your mouth and nose, Skin, and eyes, CDC recommendations for PPE include:

Goggles or eye protection, N-95 respirator or one that provides even more protection), Long-sleeved shirt, Protective gloves, Long pants, Waterproof boots. Mold spraying in Red Lodge is being offered through a volunteer Baptist Church group on Saturday. Please let the volunteer tent know if you need this service.

Volunteer Tracking: It is critical that volunteer hours, donations and equipment use (pumps, hoses, skid steers, even brooms, etc.) should be recorded separately. It is also critical that the work done is being detailed.  Forms and examples of how they can be filled out can be found on the Carbon Alert website and at the volunteer tent. You can also call the volunteer hotline at 406-445-7258. This information will help Carbon County quantify volunteer efforts which is necessary to offset costs for the FEMA Government assistance process. 

Custer Gallatin NF Closure: The Yellowstone and Gardiner Ranger Districts are now open, except for specific closures on National Forest roads damaged. The Beartooth R.D. will open the West Fork Road to Basin Campground in the afternoon on Friday. Basin Campground will be closed as it sustained damage. Palisade Campground will be open; it does not allow trailers. The Main Fork of Rock Creek will remain closed. The Forest in Stillwater County remains closed. For the latest information and questions for the Beartooth Ranger Districts can be directed to 406-446-2103. Please check with the Forest Service Ranger Districts in your area to get the most up to date information on current closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin.  

Emergency work in the Flood Plain: For those living in the Floodplain -Immediately following a disaster, an Emergency Notification needs to be sent to the Floodplain Administrator describing any emergency work done in the floodplain. Initiation of a Floodplain Permit is required within 30 days of the Emergency Notification. 

• For the 2022 spring flood, an Emergency Notification can be found at https://carboncomt.seamlessdocs.com/f/EmergencyFloodpermit 

• A Floodplain Permit for and additional resources can be found under the DNRC's Floodplain Regulation resources, http://dnrc.mt.gov/.../floodpl.../permitting-and-regulations or by reaching out to the Floodplain Administrator.

o Carbon County Conservation District: 406-962-3641 Ext 115 or via cell 406-930-5441

o Carbon County website to access Emergency Notification Form: https://co.carbon.mt.us/departments/floodplain/ 

o Farm Service Agency in Joliet: 406-962-3300 

o Natural Resource Conservation Service: 406-962-3641 

Red Lodge District Update: 

Temporary bridges will be placed at the Meeteetse Trail Road and the north end of East Side Road. State and local officials are doing everything they can to expedite the installation of these temporary bridges. Residents can expect these temporary bridges and the specialized, heavy equipment with which to install them to be arriving on site in the next few weeks. Given the dynamic nature of this situation, the schedule is very fluid and subject to change. 

Red Lodge Public works continues to work on establishing temporary water to the Park Ave and Kainu Ave. They hope to have water to Kainu Ave later Friday and next week for Park Ave.

Please see the Montana Department of Transportation Website or App for current road closures and detours.

Volunteer efforts in Red Lodge are still being coordinated from the tent at 15th Street and Platt through the weekend. Needs will be assessed on Monday about the continuation of the tent. Mold spraying is being offered through a volunteer Baptist Church group on Saturday. Please let the tent know if you need this service. Efforts to help with clean up in Roscoe will ramp up in the next few days.

The Forest Service and the County are aware of the conditions in the East Rosebud area. They are working on assessments and plans.

Bridger District Update: Clean up continues in Fromberg and there is a movement to outlying areas in the Clarks Fork Valley. Volunteers from Helena Habitat for Humanity will be in the area over the weekend. Flood damaged items and debris may continue to be brought to the city park to be disposed of later. 

Fromberg High School feeding and donation station will remain open and staffed with local volunteers until July 8 unless the need declines before that date.

There is still a boil order for the town of Fromberg. 

Additional Information: 

● There is an account set up at the Billings Regional Landfill for flooded Carbon County residents to use. The Carbon County Relief Fund will cover the charges, but you must get a charge code from the Red Lodge Volunteer tent on 15th & Platt, the volunteer tent in Fromberg, or by calling the Carbon County Disaster Relief line at 406-445-7258.

● The Red Cross Recovery Team will remain in the area to work on case management and assessments. If you need assistance, please call the Red Cross at 1-800-272-6668.

● Unsafe conditions remain in the flooded area, please stay away from closed areas. Heavy equipment will be working in the area and many areas remain unsafe due to undercut sidewalks, roads and bridges

Original source can be found here.