Five million dollars is on its way to Northwest Montana after Pres. Donald Trump gave his thumbs up to Montana’s request for a presidential emergency declaration in response to flooding in the region.

“Thanks to President Trump’s quick response, Montana is securing the additional resources our communities need to respond to this emergency,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a press release. “While we assess the damage caused to critical infrastructure, this federal support will ensure the continued health and safety of all Montanans affected.”

According to federal laws, the total amount of assistance provided for in a single emergency may not exceed $5 million. If that amount is exceeded, the President must report to Congress. 

As additional damage assessments are completed, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services will coordinate with the governor to request a major disaster declaration. A major declaration request is required to cover disaster related costs that exceed this initial support.

Tuesday, Dec. 16, the governor submitted the request for federal funding to support emergency response costs associated with the flooding that occurred in Lincoln and Sanders counties and the Blackfeet Nation.

U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, as well as Rep. Ryan Zinke, also sent a letter to Pres. Trump in support of Gianforte’s emergency declaration request for Lincoln and Sanders counties and the Blackfeet Tribe following a catastrophic severe storm and flooding event.

Northwest Montana has endured a one-two punch of extreme weather that began the week of Dec. 8 and lasted through Dec. 18. 

The so-called “atmospheric river” resulted in record rainfall, warm temperatures that added snow melt to the mix and led to widespread flooding in south Lincoln County.

That led to Gianforte declaring a State of Emergency for Lincoln and Sanders counties. The Cabinet Mountains received more than a foot of water equivalent from Dec. 6 to Dec. 11. The weather station at Poorman Creek south of Libby reported five inches of precipitation in a 24-hour period from Dec. 10 to Dec, 11.

In Gianforte’s request, he outlined the extreme conditions that led to infrastructure damage, including the failure of the Lower Flower Creek Dam and several roads and bridges.

More than 1,100 homes and hundreds of businesses and public agencies receive water from the Flower Creek Reservoir above Libby. The newer, manmade, reservoir was built 10 years ago and is controlled by a large concrete dam. The lower reservoir is held back by an earthen dike and it was breached by flood surges for about 12 hours beginning Dec. 11.

Engineers who examined the dam noted seepage along one side and soil erosion resulting from the increased water level, said Patricia Spencer, the communications supervisor of the Water Resources Division at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. 

That resulted in lowering the water level of the reservoir about two feet on Dec. 14 to reduce pressure on the compromised dam and minimize the risk of a total structural failure. Efforts to stabilize the damaged area continued during the morning of Dec. 15.

Montana Department of Environmental Quality officials then indicated concern that mixing water in the reservoir may be dislodging sediment with heavy metals that may have been present in the bottom of the reservoir and asked Libby to test the drinking water for 11 inorganic compounds: arsenic, beryllium, antimony, barium, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, mercury, nickel, selenium and thallium. 

After hand delivering water samples to a Kalispell lab for testing on Dec. 15 and 16, the results came back negative for the aforementioned metals, according to the Lincoln County Health Department.

The boil advisory remains in effect for Libby residents more than a week after catastrophic flooding first compromised the city’s sole supply of public drinking water. Officials implemented a boil advisory Dec. 11, citing high levels of turbidity, or cloudiness, in the reservoir. The condition often arises when excess sediments enter waterways.

County officials said residents should plan for the boil order to remain in place for some time.

Washed out bridges included the Granite Creek Road bridge on Big Cherry Creek, the bridge on Farm to Market Road over Libby Creek and the Keeler Creek Bridge. Portions of Libby Creek Road were washed out as well.

Other washed out bridges included Lower Granite Creek, the West Fisher Creek Road bridge at Lake Creek, 8 Mile Libby Creek Bridge, Libby Creek to Ramsey, Lake Creek Road. 

The Champion Haul Road was also washed out.

In Troy, the levy on Callahan Creek washed out, and the St. Regis Haul Road is closed. In the Yaak, the 17 Mile Bridge on Yaak River Road is closed.

Officials recently inspected the Ross Creek Road Bridge and declared it safe for travel. But concern remains for the area with risks for mud slides on the West Bull Lake Road and possible flooding near the Bad Medicine Campground.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 6 to 13 inches of snow in the Bull Lake area between Friday night and Sunday night.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office lifted the evacuation or stay in place order for residents on the west side and south end of Bull Lake. “The debris caused by recent weather events have been cleaned up, but please understand that there is potential for a landslide and debris to occur again. Use caution when in the area,” Sheriff Darren Short said.

The region’s next storm resulted in a winds ranging between 50 and 80 miles per hour that left more than 30,000 customers without power this week, ranging from the Idaho border to the Flathead Valley.

While Friday dawned bright and sunny, more wind hampered the efforts of power company crews to restore electricity.

In a statement on its website, Northern Lights reported its crews made great progress Friday, restoring power to 1,500 locations. At 6 p.m. Friday, the utility reported 1,700 locations were still out of service.

It said their crews are still out inspecting and patrolling infrastructure, and as more damage is uncovered, restoration estimates may continue to change. There are widespread broken poles, downed wire, and damaged hardware, and these repairs take time, especially in areas with access challenges.

For Flathead Electric customers, nearly 13,500 customers were still without power Thursday morning and in Lincoln County, the number was 4,776.

But, according to its outage map, more than 2,100 Lincoln Co. customers had power restored. In the Flathead, about 2,600 customers were still without power.