Recent precipitation and warmer temperatures, coupled with well above average snowpack, has prompted Ravalli County emergency service offices to issue an advisory to Ravalli County residents that they can expect flood conditions.
Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman, in conjunction with Ravalli County Office of Emergency Management Director Erik Hoover, is advising citizens anticipating flooding to contact their local Volunteer Fire Districts to obtain sand bags and sand.
Questions about resources or preparedness should be directed to the Ravalli County Office of Emergency Management at 375-6655.
Fire District Contact Numbers:
Florence Volunteer Fire Department: 239-7384
Three Mile Volunteer Fire Department: 880-2749
Stevensville Rural Volunteer Fire Department: 550-0938
Stevensville City Volunteer Department: 531-6355
Victor Volunteer Fire Department: 370-1662
Pinesdale Volunteer Fire Department: 546-5931
Corvallis Volunteer Fire Department: 360-5756
Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department: 360-4379
Darby Volunteer Fire Department: 381-5114
Sula Volunteer Fire Department: 360-1842
West Fork Volunteer Fire Department: 821-3138
Painted Rocks Volunteer Fire Department: 349-3206
Citizens with immediate medical or life threatening emergencies should call 911 for assistance.
Flood conditions have forced additional closures and restrictions at Fishing Access Sites (FASs) along the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers this week.
Bitterroot River access sites impacted from south to north include the campground portion of Hannon Memorial (day use and boat ramp remains open), Darby Bridge, Woodside Bridge, Bell Crossing, Poker Joe, Florence Bridge and a portion of the Chief Looking Glass campground.
Clark Fork FASs that are closed include Kelly Island (Mullan Road access only) and Kona Bridge.
Impacted sites are closed as signed. Additional FAS closures and restrictions around western Montana are possible as spring runoff continues, and FWP urges caution if venturing on or near rivers during high water. For updates, visit http://fwp.mt.gov/ and choose “restrictions and closures <http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/> .”