WALLACE – Shoshone County leaders are still working to assess the damage caused by last week’s flooding event that prompted a state of emergency declaration from the county’s commissioners.  

Dan Martinsen, Shoshone County’s Emergency Services manager, has spent the past few days completing damage assessments and collecting information to help mitigate potential future road failures.  

He stated how the state of emergency declaration is designed to provide direct relief to the county, while indirectly benefiting the taxpayers by keeping the county within its budgetary restrictions.  

“The declaration process allows the entity to be eligible for emergency or disaster relief funding should it become available,” Martinsen explained. “Through a State Declaration and presumably a Federal Declaration, the opportunity for reimbursement of expenditures related to the response and recovery is possible.” 

It is currently unknown how much money the county has spent over the past week, but Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke was forced to call on almost her entire workforce to respond to various areas to handle repair and cleanup efforts.  

According to Stutzke, most of her staff were out on the roads the night before, clearing roads of debris from the high winds that had blown through the region. On Thursday and Friday, those same workers and even a few temporary employees were doing flood mitigation.  

“We had 15 of our staff members in that district bouncing between Prichard Creek Road and Beaver Creek Road,” Stutzke said.  

Crews are still working along Prichard Creek Road, shoring up the banks and shoulders as they gear up for the next round of wild weather that’s been forecasted.  

“What we worry about now is that the ground is so saturated that things are going to be unstable,” Stutzke said.  

Beyond simple flood insurance, there are several options for area residents dealing with flood damage.  

Federal Assistance  

- FEMA Individual Assistance - (IA) Apply at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.  

- SBA Disaster Loans - Homeowners and Renters: Low-interest loans for repairs. Apply at sba.gov/disaster or call 1-800-659-2955.  

State & Local Assistance  

- Idaho Department of Health & Welfare - TAFI: Cash aid for basic needs; LIHEAP & LIHWAP: Help with heating, energy, and water bills. Call 1-877-456-1233 or dial 2-1-1 (Idaho CareLine).  

- Community Action Partnership - Emergency housing, utility assistance, food, and weatherization. Phone: 208-664-8757.  

Nonprofit & Emergency Relief  

- American Red Cross - Emergency shelter, meals, cleanup kits. Call 1-800-733-2767.  

- Salvation Army - Food, clothing, temporary shelter, and financial aid. Find local branch: salvationarmyusa.org  

- Idaho VOAD - Connects residents with volunteer groups for cleanup and recovery, visit www.idahovoad.org.  

Immediate Help  

- Dial 2-1-1 for referrals to local aid programs. Local food banks and churches often provide emergency supplies and support.