Sheriff to direct flood efforts

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry is at the top of the county’s command list related to flood issues, county commissioners were told Tuesday.

Curry signed off on a command plan Monday, according to Scott Sampey and Cindy Mullaney. Sampey is director and Mullaney is deputy director of the county Office of Emergency Services.

The two briefed commissioners on the county’s flood preparation work. Every county department has been “at the table” for discussions, Sampey said.

“We’re watching. We expect some flooding,” Sampey said, although no flood damage has yet been reported.

Of particular interest is the Swan River, which is now listed in the severe range for flooding. Some flooding has been reported on Ashley Creek, but  so far no houses have seen flood waters, Sampey said. Both the Flathead and Stillwater rivers are high and county officials are watching them, he said.

“It’s not if we’re getting a flood, it’s where and when,” Sampey said.

Sheriff’s personnel are scheduled to fly over parts of the county this week to check on river levels and Sampey and Mullaney plan to check potential flood sites on Thursday by vehicle.

Mullaney and Sampey are establishing a telephone hotline, which they hope is operational by the end of the week. It will offer flood updates 24 hours a day.

Sampey also is working to get simple safety messages out, including recommending that propane tanks are bolted to something so they can’t float away in a flood. He warns people to not drive vehicles through flooded areas, citing a statistic that shows 70 percent of the people who die in a flood die while driving.

The emergency services office has been receiving some calls from people who are getting nervous about potential flooding, Mullaney said.

The response to those individuals is to offer advice and to explain how the county plans to distribute sandbags, Sampey said.

Sandbags will first be used to protect county property, then made available to other governments and communities in the county — then to individuals.

“If we have extras, then we’ll give them out,” Sampey said.

“We absolutely intend to give them to the public,” Mullaney said. “But we have to get the best bang for our buck and put them in the right place.”

Mullaney reminded commissioners that there are businesses in the county that sell sandbags.

And, she said, “There isn’t flooding yet. Until we know flooding is imminent we’re not giving [sandbags] out.”

“We’re being cautious,” Sampey said. “We don’t want bags out just because someone thinks they might flood.” 

People need to know how to use sandbags, county Fire Service Area Manager Lincoln Chute said.

“If it’s not properly done, people can save one house and flood 10,” Chute said.

Chute also said sandbags won’t help in places such as Evergreen where flooding is likely to be a result of groundwater coming up.

County officials also are addressing how to recover “fast and easy” from any flooding, Sampey said. That includes working with the county planning office to make sure the proper forms are available to anyone who may need them after a flood.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.