2022 Montana floods
Flood damage in Red Lodge on June 14
DateJune 13, 2022 – June 24, 2022
LocationMontana, Yellowstone National Park
Deaths1
Property damage$29 million

In June 2022, the U.S. state of Montana was hit by heavy, damaging floods in multiple major watersheds including the Yellowstone River.[1] Heavy rain and melting snow over the weekend June 10–13 caused large areas of Yellowstone National Park to be evacuated.[2] On June 14, the water plant in Billings was temporarily shut down.[3] Many houses were damaged as a result, and a number of roads and bridges were destroyed by floodwaters.[4]

The National Weather Service said that heavy rain on top of melting mountain snow pushed the Yellowstone, Stillwater and Clarks Fork rivers to record levels and triggered rock and mudslides. The Montana National Guard said that 87 people had been airlifted by helicopter to safety.[5] Cities and towns affected include Gardiner, Fromberg, Livingston, Red Lodge.[6] On Monday, June 13 Governor Greg Gianforte verbally authorized Lt Governor Kristen Juras to declare a state of emergency.[1][7] Governor Gianforte was vacationing in Italy, and returned Thursday, June 16.[8] On June 16, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Montana.[9]

On June 18, it was reported that heavier flooding is expected to reach Billings and other areas in Eastern Montana.[10] The flooding so far has reportedly caused $29 million in damage.[11]

Multiple watersheds impacted

Yellowstone River headwaters

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Carbella Bridge (1918–2022)

The Carbella Bridge, which crossed the Yellowstone River was destroyed.[12]

Stillwater River

Homes near Absarokee were threatened when the Stillwater River flooded, eroding the riverbanks.[13] Extensive flooding of the river also affected Nye and Fishtail.[14]

Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone

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On June 13, Rock Creek, a tributary of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone, flooded Red Lodge, Montana damaging roads, bridges and buildings.[15] The flood caused severe damage to infrastructure on the north side of the park including the north entrance road, wastewater systems, facilities, and trails.[16]

Missouri River headwaters

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Fishing Access Sites along the Madison River near Ennis, Montana and several roads near tributary creeks were closed due to flooding in the Madison River watershed. The Ruby River in the Jefferson River watershed experienced flooding, closing roads above and below Ruby Reservoir near Alder, Montana.[17]

Flathead River

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A 43-year-old man was killed in a rafting incident on the Flathead River on June 21.[18] High water levels and debris have reportedly made the river dangerous.[19]

Yellowstone National Park

North Entrance Road washout along Gardner River
Rescue Creek Bridge washed away on Gardner River

On June 14, 2022, Yellowstone National Park shut down all of its entrances,[20] and began evacuation of approximately 10,000 visitors currently in the park. The National Park Service had stated that many parts, including the North part of Yellowstone, would be closed for "a substantial length of time".[21][22] Flood damage, mostly road washouts and mudslides, were extensive on the Yellowstone River headwaters of Soda Butte Creek, Lamar River and Gardner River. Multiple road washouts in the Gardner River canyon made the park inaccessible from the Northern Entrance road, including park administrative, maintenance and concessionaire facilities in Gardiner.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b "Acting governor Juras signs disaster declaration with Gianforte out of country". Montana Public Radio. June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  2. ^ "Parts of Montana and Yellowstone Park are submerged by flooding". Sky News. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "Billings". Billings. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Hanna, Jason; Vera, Amir; Wolfe, Elizabeth; Williams, David; Afshar, Paradise. "Parts of Yellowstone National Park may stay closed for 'substantial length of time' after severe flooding". CNN. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "87 people rescued in Montana as severe flooding leaves Yellowstone "dramatically" changed". CBS News. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "Yellowstone National Park closes entrances, residents evacuate Red Lodge as floods sweep across Montana". Montana Public Radio. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Prevost, Ruffin (June 15, 2022). "Rare Yellowstone closure from historic floods spells hardship for 'gateway' towns". Reuters. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "Montana governor was vacationing in Italy when his state was flooded". NBC News. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Montana". FEMA.gov. June 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "Yellowstone: Historic floods could reach eastern Montana". BBC News. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "Montana governor vacationed in Italy while Yellowstone faced catastrophic flooding that caused $29 million in damage". Yahoo! News. June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Bergan, Joshua (June 17, 2022). "UPDATED: Historic Yellowstone River Flooding Damages Yellowstone Park and Paradise Valley". Fly Fisherman. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Absarokee homes submerged as flooding erodes Stillwater River banks". KTVQ. June 14, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Roads, homes impacted by Stillwater River flooding". KTVQ. June 13, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Hubbard, Halisia (July 12, 2022). "How a Montana community is faring after devastating floods hit the area last month". NPR. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "Yellowstone Flooding: One Year Later (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Depping, Meridith (June 16, 2022). "Madison County Emergency Operations Center warning people of possible flooding with warmer weather". KURL8.com.
  18. ^ Buchli, Zoe (June 22, 2022). "Man dies in Flathead River rafting accident". missoulian.com. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "Conditions remain dangerous on Flathead River". Yahoo! News. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Sanchez, Elizabeth Wolfe,Claudia Dominguez,Ray (June 14, 2022). "Dozens evacuated as unprecedented flooding forces Yellowstone National Park to close all entrances". CNN. Retrieved June 17, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Jason Hanna, Amir Vera, Elizabeth Wolfe, David Williams and Paradise Afshar (June 15, 2022). "Parts of Yellowstone National Park may stay closed for 'substantial length of time' after severe flooding". CNN. Retrieved June 17, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Brown, Matthew (June 15, 2022). "After Yellowstone, floodwaters menace Montana's largest city". AP News. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
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