Dozens of people turned out to help fill sandbags on Wednesday in the parking lot of Home Depot in Great Falls.
Some of them needed the bags for their property, while others jumped in to lend a helping hand.
Great Falls resident Pam Quinn says it’s nice to see the community work together and she is staying positive.
“It brings the community together, people help each other. It’s all good, it’s to remind us what is important,” said Quinn.
The Emergency Operations Center in Great Falls says that National Weather Service hydrologists are reporting that the Sun River has peaked within the last two hours and should start to slowly recede.
The Missouri River is within approximately six inches of its crest, which is now estimated to occur at around midnight on Thursday. The river is now expected to peak at about 15.2 feet, which is less than earlier predictions of 17 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
The Sun River, according to the NWS, has crested at about 9.5 feet, which is about 3.5 feet above flood stage, and is expected to begin receding later on Thursday.
There are complimentary sand bags available in the Home Depot parking lot in the Great Falls Marketplace. Once the available bag supply is depleted, community members may bring their own bags to fill with complimentary sand. This operation will shut down at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The Red Cross shelter at New Hope Lutheran Church (3125 5th Avenue S) will remain open until at least 6 a.m. on Friday.
According to the Great Falls/Cascade County Emergency Operations Center, the neighborhoods of Gannon Ranch Addition and near Meadowlark Country Club, including Country Club Boulevard, have been added to a list of high-risk flood areas.
The following roads have been closed due to flooding:
- Central Avenue West from 34th Street to Sun River Road
- River Drive South from 1st Avenue South to 3rd Avenue South (near the Electric City Water Park)
Until further notice, the boat launches at Broadwater Bay and Sun River are closed. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has also closed all of Cascade County’s boat launches.
Great Falls firefighters and police officers as well as the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office plan to go door-to-door in the most high-risk areas delivering information about possible evacuations and flood safety. Visit the Cascade City-County Health Department’s website for more information.
To find out if your location is at risk, go to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center website. If you are unable to access the internet, call 406-455-8554 to receive general information.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP OR VOLUNTEER, CALL THE CASCADE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AT 406-455-8554.
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