The National Weather Service in Great Falls posted the following message on Facebook at 11:27 a.m. on Tuesday:
Take action now! If you live along the Sun River, you should be preparing for flooding comparable to or greater than in June 2011 within the next few hours. More details are forthcoming, but please don’t wait to act!
The agency says that the latest forecasts for the Sun River at both Simms and Vaughn indicate it will soon reach levels not seen since June 2011. Significant impacts to homes, farms, agricultural lands, and roads and highways are expected. Moderate flood stage may be reached as early as this evening near and upstream of the Simms area, and as early as Wednesday afternoon or evening toward Vaughn and areas downstream.
From the Montana Department of Transportation:
MT-21 from Augusta to Simms: ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING / WATER ON ROAD. LOCAL ACCESS ONLY. MT-21 IS CLOSED AT SIMMS
US-287 from 2 miles south of Augusta to 6 miles north of Augusta: ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING. US-287 IS CLOSED AROUND AUGUSTA. BARRICADES ARE IN PLACE AT MILE MARKER 37 SOUTH OF AUGUSTA (ELK CREEK) AND AT MILE MARKER 46 NORTH OF AUGUSTA (S-408). LOCAL ACCESS ONLY.
Up to 8 inches of rainfall have fallen over the headwaters of the Sun River, including Gibson Reservoir.
Manchester Fire says that the flooding should arrive in the Sun River community in the next four to five hours because the water is coming straight from Simms, and that’s about how long it takes to get to Sun River.
Vaughn Fire & Rescue posted on Facebook that sand bags are available at the Vaughn Fire Station for residents of Simms, Fort Shaw, Sun River, Vaughn, Sun Prairie, and Manchester.
MT FWP says that the Medicine River Fishing Access Site and the Fort Shaw Fishing Access Site have been closed to motorized access due to the high water. Both sites have been gated and will remain closed until the Sun River recedes, and the area can be cleaned up.
Flooding has already hit areas in and around Augusta:
(1st Report, 9:04 a.m.) Heavy rain in recent days is causing flooding in and around Augusta.
The Montana Department of Transportation has closed a section of US Highway 287, from mile marker 37 to mile marker 40; in addition, the area where US 287 meets Highway 200 is closed to northbound traffic at this time.
The Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office posted the following messages on Facebook:
- Water is flowing over Hwy 287 near Elk Creek outside Augusta. In some locations the water is reported to be 10 inches deep. The DOT has closed that part of the road and is asking drivers to use extreme caution in this area.
- Hwy 287 and Hwy 200 is closed at Bowman’s Corner. The Gibson Dam is full and will be letting out water, which will affect the Sun River. Parts of Hwy 434 and Dearborn Canyon Road are washed out. Use extreme caution when driving.
In addition, the rain is causing areas of the Sun River in Cascade County to rise, which could affect people in and around Vaughn.
The National Weather Service in Great Falls says that periods of rain, heavy at times, is likely to affect the Sun River basin on Tuesday, and the Sun River is likely to go above flood stage. The agency says that the river could crest near nine feet on Wednesday.
Cascade County Sheriff Bob Edwards advises all residents living along the Sun River to closely monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Vaughn Fire & Rescue posted on Facebook that sand bags are available at the Vaughn Fire Station for residents of Simms, Fort Shaw, Sun River, Vaughn, Sun Prairie, and Manchester.
We have a reporters headed to Augusta and Vaughn to get more information about the situation.
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