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Floods, landslides lead to disaster declarations in three counties

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter issued disaster declarations early this week for three northern Idaho counties because of recent rainstorms that resulted in floods, landslide and highway damage.

The declaration makes state support available for impacted areas, which include Bonner, Shoshone and Idaho counties.
Precipitation in Idaho and Bonner counties has broken monthly rainfall records, some more than 100 years old.

The landslides and flooding damaged a number of roads in all three counties, causing residents and first responders to detour take extensive detours around the closed roads. The landslide on Leitch Creek Road in Idaho County deposited an estimated 80,000 cubic yards of debris across the road, making it impassable for some time.

The Idaho Emergency Operations Center, housed at the Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS), has been activated and is working closely with local officials and county emergency coordinators. Damage assessments continue in the impacted areas to get a better picture of what it will take to repair the affected transportation infrastructure.

“When we see record rainfall and supersaturated soils, landslides and destroyed roads become inevitable,” said Brig. Gen. Bill Shawver, BHS director. “Now our task is to work with available resources to support the areas affected by the disaster.”
Shoshone County declared a local declaration of emergency on Sunday (April 1), and requested state assistance in protecting county roads and repairing the ones already damaged.

The conditions are a result of heavy rainfall that has created highly saturated soils. These highly saturated soils have become unstable, causing landslides that damaged transportation infrastructure in the county. The Dobson Pass Road has been rendered impassable, and county officials report it has suffered a “total failure.”

Landslides and floods also have affected other counties in the north and north central portion of the state. National Weather Service forecasts predict more rain and snow in the near future.

“Heavy rains and associated runoff have taken a toll on transportation infrastructure. Saturated soils and forecast weather patterns may continue to complicate recovery activities,” Shawver said. “We are going to work with the impacted areas to coordinate all available help, and keep an eye on the conditions in case things get worse.”