In response to the natural disasters that have affected south Lincoln County, the county Health Department is opening a Winter Storm Resource Center next week in Libby.

The center will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the Memorial Events Center at 111 E. Lincoln Blvd.

Members of the public can come in and talk to service providers to find disaster related information and connect with organizations on unmet needs.

Service providers will include local churches, non-profits, state agencies, volunteer groups and local community groups. There is no cost to the public.

County officials are asking area providers that want to participate at the resource center to call Sarah Hartley at 406-417-9238 or email her at [email protected]. Also, contact Montana Disaster and Emergency Services’ Betsy Ross at 406-202-8266 or email her at [email protected].

Also, a Disaster Distress Helpline is available for those who are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious. Call or text 1-800-985-5990. The Disaster Distress Helpline provides free, confidential and emotional support for anyone affected by natural or human-caused disaster.

In other related news, Libby city officials announced Dec. 22 that the boil water advisory will remain in effect for at least an additional 10 days.

City officials said they continue to monitor the water quality and updates will be provided when more information is possible.

They also said efforts are being made to secure an ongoing bulk water supply. A limited supply of bulk water is available at the Red Cross distribution center at the Memorial Events Center.

In addition, two cases of bottled water per household are available to residents, also at the Memorial Events Center.

Distribution hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 25; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26.

“We recognize the significant inconvenience and stress this situation places on residents and local businesses,” Libby Mayor Peggy Williams said. “The city appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as we continue to respond to this unprecedented event.”

The Red Cross is still operating at the Memorial Events Center. Also, residents can get assistance or help by calling 1-800-733-2767.

According to Montana House District 2 Representative Tom Millett, the state Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) has begun processing requests for direct federal assistance. Four requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency are related to the repair operations at Libby’s lower reservoir on Flower Creek.

Millett also shared that SECC coordinated travel and scheduling logistics with the recovery experts coming through Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) with other states. 

“Right now we will be getting a team in late Friday night from Florida and a second team on Sunday from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),” Millett said. “All will mobilize to Libby to start Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments by Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Utility workers continued to restore power to the thousands of customers who lost it in last week’s windstorm.

For Flathead Electric customers, 74 customers in Lincoln County and six in Flathead County remained without power as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23.

According to the Northern Lights outage map, power has been restored to all customers in Lincoln County as of Tuesday afternoon. Three remained without power in the Thompson Falls area. Troy Power Company and the Public Works Department were part of the exhaustive efforts to get power restored.