Shoshone County under State disaster declaration

As of March 17, Shoshone County has been added to the state disaster declaration due to extreme flooding, landslides and avalanches.

This state declaration allows for Shoshone County to request assistance and support from the state via the Idaho Office of Emergency Management.

Idaho governor Butch Otter signed state disaster declarations for seven Idaho counties dealing with flooding-related issues last Tuesday .

Residents in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah and Shoshone counties have all had to deal with flooding, landslides, and avalanches as the snow melts and more rain continues to fall.

“Water levels along the Coeur d’ Alene River, the St. Joe River, and numerous other bodies of water within each of the counties in the state declaration, have risen dramatically, causing widespread flooding, mudslides, water over roads, damaged levees and flooding of homes and basements,” state officials wrote in a release. “Two homes have received significant damage due to mudslides.”

In Shoshone County the North and South forks of the Coeur d’Alene River have risen significantly with massive flooding on the North Fork and in the Cataldo region.

Shoshone County Commissioner Mike Fitzgerald explained why the state disaster declaration is helpful for the county.

“We have numerous areas impacted by flooding and slides,” Fitzgerald said. “But, in general, once we hit a threshold cost of damages which is $44,000, State emergency funds kicks-in. A similar threshold happens at the Federal level and the Governor can declare an emergency on behalf of the State to receive Federal assistance.”

Shoshone County emergency manager Cory Foster was all over the Valley on Wednesday as he was surveying the damage done by the flooding.

“We had a mud and landslide in Mullan on Atlas Road on Sunday morning,” Foster said. “Bingville Road had a washout, the dam near the fish hatchery was blocked by debris, but the debris was cleared.”

Other issues in French Gulch, Moon Gulch, Cougar Creek (up the North Fork), in Wallace, and even the road to Calder have all drawn some of Foster’s attention.

“When we have exhausted our means, the state will provide the extra resources for us to use,” Foster said. “The funding will go into a pool and we’ll be able to use it for things like repairs, fuel costs, and cost recovery for workers putting in overtime.”

For more information or to report an issue contact Shoshone County public works office at (208) 753-5475.