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Lincoln County declares emergency after heavy rain and flooding
Summary
The Lincoln County Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-35, declaring a local state of emergency after heavy rain, snowmelt and flooding damaged roads and at least one bridge; the 4-1 vote activates county emergency funding and the county emergency operations plan.
The Lincoln County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 to adopt Resolution 2025-35 and declare a local state of emergency after officials said unprecedented rainfall and snowmelt have washed out roads and at least one bridge and left some routes closed.
The chair, reading the resolution text, said in part, "an emergency is hereby declared pursuant to Montana code annotated section 10-3-402," placing the county emergency operations plan into effect and directing that copies be filed with the clerk and recorder. The chair said the declaration is necessary "in order to activate our 2 mills of funding and then reimbursement from the state for additional damages." The vote followed a motion to approve the resolution and a second.
Why it matters: The declaration activates local funding and the county emergency plan, authorizes the emergency operations center and starts the process to seek state reimbursement for damage to roads and bridges. Officials also asked crews to document time, fuel, equipment, labor and photographs to support reimbursement claims.
County staff reported that the approach to a state bridge on Farm to Market was washed out and listed multiple road closures, including Granite Cherry, Farm to Market and Libby Fifth Street Extension. A staff speaker said a deputy reported "they may have lost a vehicle actually went in that and washed downstream." One speaker said "one bridge so far" had been lost; another remark in the discussion said, "Troy's lost a couple of bridges," creating ambiguity about the total number of bridges damaged on the record.
Officials urged residents to exercise caution as warm weather and wind accelerate snowmelt and as more rain is possible. One speaker warned, "don't take chances or risks and trying to drive on flooded roads." The board said it would forward the signed resolution to Boyd to transmit to the state; the chair also noted the county's emergency operations center had been activated.
The board provided a public information line for residents seeking sandbag locations or assistance: 4062936295.
The meeting adjourned after the vote. No public comments were made during the call.
