First off, a new blog theme starting today! Blogger came up with some new themes and I thought I would try one out. I may be trying others out and tweaking aspects of it.
OK, back to our wild and wooly winter!
On my last post, I was wondering about the possibility of another heavy snowfall that evening and weekend.
Well, that didn't happen!
No, the rains came!
Culminating with last weekends really heavy rains, mudslides, and flooding.
Following are excerpts from a recent story about all this from the online version of an area newspaper
OK, back to our wild and wooly winter!
On my last post, I was wondering about the possibility of another heavy snowfall that evening and weekend.
Well, that didn't happen!
No, the rains came!
Culminating with last weekends really heavy rains, mudslides, and flooding.
Following are excerpts from a recent story about all this from the online version of an area newspaper
"BONNERS FERRY — In the wake of snow and ice storms, Boundary County and the City of Bonners Ferry declared a state of emergency for the second time this winter on Saturday after torrential rains rapidly melted accumulated snow banks across the county creating floods and subsequent mudslides.
A mudslide on the South Hill at U.S. Highway 95 and Ash St. backed up both north and southbound traffic for about five hours on Saturday with one lane of traffic beginning to flow through the city at about 6 p.m. Northbound traffic was delayed at the top of the South Hill and southbound traffic was blocked at the Three-Mile junction, delaying U.S. Highway 2 traffic as well as southbound traffic entering the United States from the U.S. Canadian border entry points at Porthill and Eastport, according to the Boundary County Public Information Officer.
Above: last week, the rain softened hillside gave way when this train was going across. It happened in a vehicle inaccessible area near the Kootenai river. There were concerns of the railcars falling into the river. The tan colored material is from the loads of grain that were dumped in the derailment. At this time there is no idea when, or if, due to the location, those rail cars can be salvaged. The photo was taken by a Sheriff's Deputy that was flown to the accident area to assess the scene.
Above and below; Ash street showing the fresh mud blocking the street looking towards the highway and below, Monday's cleanup in process.
By this morning, Tuesday, the road was clear and open for traffic again.
Photos by the story reporter here.
Multiple mudslides and floods were reported throughout the county all day Saturday and into the night, keeping emergency responders racing from scene to scene in order to keep up with damage control.
Westside Road had significant erosion at milepost 8 that caused an approximate 20-foot drop off. Multiple mudslides were reported along the Westside Road. Flood waters washed through roads and homes in the District 2 Road area in Naples. More sliding occurred near the Mirror Lake Golf Course at Highway 95 after ITD had initially cleared a previous mudslide last Wednesday. The Deep Creek Loop near Highland Flats Road was closed due to flooding. Residents near Cow Creek Road at Parker Creek and Canyon were also impacted by flooding over the roadways.
All area emergency responders were called in to fill sandbags and to distribute them throughout the area flood zones.
According to Meier, an incident command center has been stationed at the Kootenai River Inn.
As of Monday night, the city of Bonners Ferry and Boundary County remained under a state of emergency. The city and county requested to join the state of emergency that is already in place for the five northern Idaho regions.
“We are still under a state of emergency and will be so for a week or longer,” Meier said. “We will remain in that status until all repairs have been made. We are part of five northern counties under this status and all counties have to be cleared before the state of emergency is lifted.”
Meier said County Road and Bridge and ITD have been working to clear clogged ditches and move the mud and water along as quickly as possible. Cow Creek Road is still closed due to high water and road damage Officials are concerned that the standing water may freeze and cause additional driving hazards.
Ash Street was cleared of downed trees and debris late Monday afternoon.
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe cargo train was held up Saturday night at the Highland Flats and Deep Creek Loop area due to mudslides and flooding in Bonners Ferry. The intersection was also flooded along the rail on Saturday, but water receded significantly on Deep Creek Loop Road by Sunday afternoon. On Sunday at about 2:45 p.m., BNSF crews were given the go-ahead to proceed north toward Bonners Ferry, however, they were warned flood waters had covered the rail south of Naples, according to a BNSF spokesman.
By Monday, all U.S. Highway 95 roads had been opened, and Ash Street was officially opened at 6:32 p.m. after city, county and ITD crews spent the day clearing downed trees and debris.
Meier and county officials request that travelers avoid the areas of concern until further notice."
And now, the most recent notice I received with a text alert from the National Weather Service and the Sherrif's Department.
Alert: Flood Warning until 10:33AM Wednesday
...A FLOOD WARNING FOR RAIN AND SNOWMELT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT WEDNESDAY FOR LATAH...BONNER...BOUNDARY...
* Flooding remains ongoing in many areas as the unusually wet and snowy winter raised the water table unusually high over North Idaho and a large portion of Washington. Continued snow melt, along with the contribution of some rainfall Wednesday, and will result in increased runoff with areas of mainstream flooding as well as field flooding. Flooding in the Newman Lake area is possible as well.
* Ground remains saturated and ripe for landslides and debris flows on steep slopes around the area. Residents with homes on or at the base of hillsides should be aware of the potential for landslides and watch for trees leaning in unusual orientations, water and mud seepage where not expected, and other signs of potential ground movement.
* In addition to small stream and field flooding several rivers in Northeast Washington and North Idaho will remain near or above flood stage this week. Locations near where the Spokane River and the Little Spokane River converge and connect should be prepared for a prolonged period of high water. The Colville River will likely continue to flood over parts of highway 395 north of Colville up to near Kettle Falls through the week.
* AFFECTED AREAS: BENEWAH ... BONNER ... BOUNDARY ... LATAH ... SHOSHONE
* Flooding remains ongoing in many areas as the unusually wet and snowy winter raised the water table unusually high over North Idaho and a large portion of Washington. Continued snow melt, along with the contribution of some rainfall Wednesday, and will result in increased runoff with areas of mainstream flooding as well as field flooding. Flooding in the Newman Lake area is possible as well.
* Ground remains saturated and ripe for landslides and debris flows on steep slopes around the area. Residents with homes on or at the base of hillsides should be aware of the potential for landslides and watch for trees leaning in unusual orientations, water and mud seepage where not expected, and other signs of potential ground movement.
* In addition to small stream and field flooding several rivers in Northeast Washington and North Idaho will remain near or above flood stage this week. Locations near where the Spokane River and the Little Spokane River converge and connect should be prepared for a prolonged period of high water. The Colville River will likely continue to flood over parts of highway 395 north of Colville up to near Kettle Falls through the week.
* AFFECTED AREAS: BENEWAH ... BONNER ... BOUNDARY ... LATAH ... SHOSHONE
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