Commissioner's declare Disaster in Phillips County after heavy rains

At the weekly County Commissioners meeting last week in Malta, it was decided in Resolution 2016-09 that the flooding which began on October 3 of this month that disaster is hereby declared in Phillips County.

Whereas, initiating population protection measures, completing emergency repairs, and ensuring prompt restoration of the roads to a safe condition is an urgent priority to ensure the life safety for the citizens of the County; and, a rare flood event in the fall season has made an economical impact on agriculture in the following areas:

• Producers suffered damage to private roads

• Livestock fences have been damaged

• Flood water has damaged hay land, cropland, pasture and bales of hay

• Irrigation structures have been damaged

• Stock water dams may have been damaged or lost

• Producers may have lost livestock in the fall flood

Therefore, it was resolved by the County Commissioners that a disaster is hereby declared pursuant to Section 10-3-403 MCA and all provisions of the County Emergency Plan are in effect, according to the resolution.

Phillips County Commissioner Bruce Christofferson told the PCN many roads where washed away in Southern Phillips County (District B) and said there isn’t enough damage for FEMA moneys, but added the County is seeking state funds to help with repairing the damage.

“We have to come up with a certain amount of dollars first and then, once we have spent so many dollars, we can ask the State for assistance,” he said.

Christofferson added that the County will reassess culverts (structures that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, trail, or similar obstruction from one side to the other side.) in the area, stating they “aren’t doing the trick” and added this October’s washing away of roads is at least the second time since 2011 in which flooding has caused road problem in the area.