Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes.  Others are still living in homes damaged by floods.

Roads have been washed out.  The water system has been damaged.  The new health center is in a precarious state.

These are just some of the problems faced by residents of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in the wake of floods earlier this month.

The Tribal government at Rocky Boy has done what some experts call a tremendous job of flood relief.  People have been evacuated when necessary.

Food and water have been provided as fast as possible.

Displaced people have been put up in local hotels.  Roads were closed when motorists would have been endangered but were reopened quickly.

People have been notified of problems through media releases.

Emergency officials have been working 16-hour days or longer.

Life at Rocky Boy is slowly returning to normal, though we're sure it's not fast enough for the people who have suffered long enough.

But it will be some time before infrastructure repairs are made.  Estimates are that the cost of repairs will be in the tens of millions of dollars.

The time has come for others to help out.

Information is being gathered that would enable Gov. Brian Schweitzer to ask President Barack Obama to declare the reservation a disaster area.

That would open the door to federal funds to pay for at least some of the work that is needed to repair buildings and roads and to help those still in need.

We understand the desire of the federal government to ensure that there is a legitimate need before federal money is expended, but we think the Rocky Boy government has more than proven its case.

We hope Schweitzer quickly asks for federal assistance.  Once Montana's case is presented, it is imperative that federal officials respond quickly.

The people of Rocky Boy are in dire need.  The time for action is now.

We urge people to contact Sens.  Jon Tester and Max Baucus as well as Rep.  Denny Rehberg in support of aid to Rocky Boy.