With preliminary damage estimates already nearing $10 million following severe flooding last month, Montana officials have submitted a request to the federal government for more financial help.

Meanwhile, state officials visited Libby on Jan. 26 to help property owners file claims. Representatives from Montana State Auditor James Brown's office visited the community to help property owners file claims, mitigate future risks and work with consumers and insurance companies rebuild communities affected by the floods that occurred Dec. 11-12 in south Lincoln County.

Lincoln County Public Health Manager Zach Sherbo said Montana Disaster and Emergency Services submitted a Major Disaster Declaration request Jan. 15 to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

If that is approved, it will allow money to come to the county to do repair work.

Montana Disaster and Emergency Services officials said if the Major Disaster Declaration is approved FEMA determines eligibility for the bridges, roads and the Lower Flower Creek Diversion Dam. 

Montana Department of Transportation officials are working with the county to decide the best course of action for the bridge over Libby Creek on Farm to Market Road south of Libby. It is a state road.

According to a social media post, the department’s early analysis indicates a complete replacement of the bridge is the top long-term solution.

For the residents living on Farm to Market Road and in various subdivisions, they have had to drive 15 miles or more one way to get to Libby.

MDT officials said a new bridge is currently being modeled, while environmental and right-of-way impacts are being investigated. 

According to MDT Public Information Officer Charity Burns, the agency’s goal is to have the Farm to Market project completed by the end of 2026. 

Officials have been working to determine the extent of damages following the severe flooding in south Lincoln County during the second week of December that damaged several bridges, roadways and private property.

Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Boyd White said most of the work that needs done on the four county-owned bridges are either on the abutments or approaches.

They include the Granite Creek Bridge over Cherry Creek, just south of Libby, the Keeler Creek Bridge on Lake Creek Road, the Lake Creek Bridge on the West Fisher Creek Road, and the the bridge on Forest Service Road 6212 over Poorman Creek.

For the Keeler Creek Bridge, an abutment was lost.

“The design work is done and now it is going through permitting,” White said. “The county will either put the job out to bid or county crews will do it. There are about 30 residents living back there that have to do quite a bit of backtracking to get to Highway 56 (Bull Lake Road).”

A preliminary assessment says the cost is currently $9.69 million and county officials expect the figure to be much higher. 

According to Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, assessments on the costs of a severe wind storm the third week of the December are $6.5 million.

The disaster declaration request is primarily for FEMA's Public Assistance program. According to the agency, the program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal and local governments so communities can respond and recover from major disasters.

FEMA also encourages protecting these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is seeking an additional $16.3 million in federal funds for Lincoln County through two major disaster declaration requests submitted to the White House this month. Montana only sets aside $16 million a year in disaster appropriations, the governor said, placing the state “in a financially precarious position without additional federal support.” 

“These recent historic disasters impacted the state of Montana within one week of each other,” Gianforte said in a statement last week. "This is unparalleled for this time of year and occurred before the anticipated spring runoff. Consequently, over one third of the verified windstorm damage occurred in Northwest Montana, which is the focus of my preceding Major Disaster Declaration request.” 

The first request, submitted Jan. 9, asked for $9.986 million for flood damages to Lincoln County. A second request submitted Jan. 16 seeks an additional $6.5 million for wind damage repair for the county. 

For the U.S. Forest Service, it has a number of roads closed due to flood damage. 

Hecla Mining Company is currently utilizing the Miller Creek Road to reach the Libby Creek mining adit due to the washouts on both the Libby Creek Road and West Fisher Road 231.

KNF Public Information Officer Larona Rebo said the Forest does not have a current cost estimate.

“Emergency relief funds are being requested and we will continue to input any more requests if more damaged areas are reported,” Rebo said in an email.

Rebo also said there are currently no immediate impacts to projects that have active timber harvests. There are upcoming projects that could be potentially impacted, but plans are in place for road repairs and/or alternative haul routes to occur before the implementation of those projects. 

“Damage is still being assessed and we will have a better understanding of impacts to projects this spring,” Rebo said.

Kootenai National Forest officials have developed a list and map that indicate road, bridge and culvert washouts. Officials are urging those traveling through the Forest to continue to use extreme caution.

“We encourage those traveling through the Forest to know the risks and use extreme caution during the winter season,” officials said. “Do not attempt to drive across water on the roads as there may not be a road, culvert or bridge below the water surface. Due to the excess moisture, road and stream bank edges are extremely soft and potentially unstable. Be alert for any slumping or sliding and avoid edges.”

The Service also asked people to report any unknown road washouts. For more information or to report a washout, please contact the Kootenai Forest Supervisor’s Office at 406-293-6211 or email [email protected].

Here’s a look at the affected areas on the Libby and Three Rivers ranger districts:

Libby Ranger District

- NFS Road 4690 - FlagStaff Culvert washout at milepost 0.1

- NFS Road 4791 - Granite Creek Bridge washout at milepost 2.5

- NFS Road 231 - Libby Creek Road washout at milepost at milepost 0.9

- NFS Road 231 - Libby Creek Road washout at milepost 8.1

- NFS Road 231 - Ramsey Creek Bridge washout at milepost 8.9

- NFS Road 278 - Poorman Creek Culvert washout at milepost 12.7

- NFS Road 231 - West Fisher Road Washout at milepost 25.5

- NFS Road 231 - Lake Creek Bridge Washout at milepost 19.3

- NFS Road 6146 - Lindy Peak-Impassible road due to slumping

Three Rivers Ranger District

- NFS Road 473 - Keeler Road Washout at milepost 3

- NFS Road 398 - Ross Creek mudslides and unstable roads. The county portion of the road, from Highway 56 remains open. The section from the gate where the left turn takes visitors to Ross Creek Cedars is a Forest Service road and is currently closed to motorized vehicles for the season. 

    A Kootenai National Forest map shows affected areas following a devastating flood Dec. 11-12 in south Lincoln County. (Courtesy photo)