Home The News National News Blackfeet, Glacier County declare state of emergency

Blackfeet, Glacier County declare state of emergency

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Wednesday, 02 March 2011

Blackfeet, Glacier County declare state of emergency Mar. 2, 2011 Written by: KIM SKORNOGOSKI Tribune Staff Writer Winds and massive snowfall created blizzard conditions and roof-high drifts Tuesday, leading the Blackfeet Tribe and Glacier County to declare a state of emergency. The tribe and the county hope the declaration will bring additional state resources, which for now mostly will be snow-removal equipment to keep roads clear and help dig out residents if needed. Blackfeet Disaster Coordinator Robert DesRosier called this winter the worst he has seen in approximately 40 years. "There's just an amazing, amazing amount of snow up here," he said by phone Tuesday. Another 10 inches of fresh snow Monday night and Tuesday morning piled on to the 27 inches already on the ground. Combined with the fierce winds known to whip off the Rocky Mountain Front, snow is piled 12 to 16 feet high in places, trapping people in their homes. Browning had 20 hours of whiteout conditions last weekend, when approximately 20 motorists were stranded temporarily and the viaduct at the U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. 89 intersection was snowed under. The heavy snow also caused some highways to be reduced to one lane. Three people were seriously injured Tuesday morning in a head-on collision caused when one driver couldn't see through the blowing snow and drifted into the other lane just west of Browning, according to Blackfeet Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Nora Kennedy. She said the deep snow made it impossible for emergency responders to land a helicopter on the reservation. Instead, the injured people were transported by ambulance to Cut Bank, where a fixed-wing plane from Billings transported them to a trauma hospital. Kennedy said the tribe was concerned that piled-up snow would break power lines, knock out phone lines, clog up gas exhaust pipes to people's homes or damage propane heaters. "We don't have many resources here," Kennedy said. "Declaring an emergency will make it possible for us to get plows from the Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs as quickly as possible. We should also have access to the National Guard if needed." Snow plows from Glasgow and Bozeman were on their way to the reservation Tuesday. DesRosier said disaster coordinators from the reservation, Glacier County, the state and federal government are poised to respond if needed. He also said they are watching for key weather events — for example, another dump of snow or high winds — that would trigger the need to open emergency shelters in the tribal business council conference room and the Blackfeet boarding school. "I don't think we have a critical situation; we're in the planning and preparing stages," he said. "At this point, we're in 'ready-set' mode — we're not quite at 'go' yet." The schools and government agencies have continued to remain open throughout the blizzard, though some students and officials were stuck at home and unable to drive on the roads. Kennedy advised that people stay in touch with their families, particularly senior citizens. Two people who were scheduled for dialysis treatment Wednesday at Indian Health Service were brought into town Tuesday to ensure that they would get the medical care they need, she said. She also recommended that people only drive when needed, that they stockpile water and groceries, and that they tune into Browning's radio station, 107.5 FM, for emergency updates. "We'll know as soon as the sun comes up if we're going to get more snow, or if the temperature rises and causes the wind to change direction," DesRosier said. "Any fresh snow and it's going to become a blizzard and make the roads really treacherous for people to see." http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110302/NEWS01/103020305/

 

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