Late news: Flooding again hits Rocky Boy

Recent rains are causing a crisis at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, with the Tribal agencies there mobilizing to deal with major flooding.

The Chipppewa Cree Tribe's government reported that all drainages throughout the reservation are experiencing flooding and the Tribe has established an incident command post at its Natural Resources Department.

All information will be processed at the center, which can be reached at 395-4207 or 395-4513.

Curtis Monteaux, Tribal disaster and emergency services coordinator, is serving as the incident commander, the Tribe reported.

"We urge all Tribal residents to remain calm and work with the local Tribal departments during this high water incident," the Tribe said in its press release.

A shelter has been set up in the Jon Morsette Vo-Tech Center at Stone Child College for people displaced by the flooding.

The new flooding comes just weeks after flooding previously damaged roads and displaced residents on the reservation, also shutting down campgrounds in Beaver Creek Park and damaging fixtures there as well as causing lowland flooding along Beaver Creek north of the park.

The situation today is not yet as dire north of the reservation, although Hill County officials are preparing for problems.

Hill County Commission Chair Mike Wendland said 4¼ inches of rain have fallen in the mountains over the last few days, and the level of Beaver Creek is again rising with large amounts of water flowing into Beaver Creek Reservoir about eight miles south of Havre.

"There really is concern," he said.

Wendland said the county is warning people who live near Beaver Creek between Beaver Creek Dam and the Milk River that lowland flooding is again likely.

He said that Beaver Creek Park had not fully recovered from the flooding a few weeks ago. While the county commission is not formally closing the park, Wendland said he doubts using it would be a good idea.

"I don't think the weather will be conducive to using the campgrounds," he said.

In Blaine County, County Commissioner Vic Miller, public information officer for the county, said it appears the streams and the Milk River should be able to handle the increased water flow.

Miller said the Blaine County government is urging people to contact the government representatives if they see any flooding or potential flooding. People can call Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Haley Gustitus at 357-3310 or the Blaine County Commission office at 357-3250.

Miller added that the Blaine County government is staying in contact with the Rocky Boy and Hill County officials to monitor their service and is offering technical and personnel assistance under mutual aid, if requested.