11/18/2015
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
ITD crews clear debris, assess damage in aftermath of high winds
COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho Transportation Department maintenance crews are clearing debris and assessing damage caused by up to 74-mph winds and rain overnight throughout northern Idaho. Trees were toppled, traffic signs knocked over, and rocks brought down from area hillsides.
All state roads in the region are currently open, as ITD area maintenance crews worked all night to cut and remove hundreds of fallen trees from roadways.
ITD northern Idaho District Maintenance Operations Manager Jason Minzghor is one of the district’s many people already out this morning assessing damage and coordinating cleanup efforts.
“Situations like last night just reinforce that we are not always in control – Mother Nature is,” Minzghor said. “However, we have a responsibility to restore the roads to a safe condition as soon as possible.”
In addition, power was restored to the main department headquarters in Coeur d’Alene and to all but a few of the outlying maintenance sheds after being down region-wide yesterday. Half of Shoshone County is without power, plus approximately 150,000 people in the Spokane area.