BILLINGS – Yellowstone County emergency management officials will start handing out sandbags and sand at 8 p.m. Friday night countywide to prepare for major flooding over the next several days.
These are the locations:
- Huntley Fire Station 65 Northern Ave.
- Worden Fire Station 2463 Main St.
- Blue Creek Fire Station 2504 Blue Creek Road
- Laurel Soccer Field located at Fir Avenue and East Maryland Lane
Emergency management officials warn that flooding will likely start Sunday nights in small creeks, including Canyon, Blue, Alkali and Pryor.
Officials are urging additional precautions for people whose property floods:
- Unplug appliances to prevent electrical shock when power comes back on.
- Do not drive or walk across flooded roads. Cars and people can be swept away.
- Gather emergency supplies and follow local radio or TV updates.
- When power lines are down, water is in your home, or before you evacuate, TURN OFF gas, power, and water.
The Yellowstone and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone are both expected to rise to record levels over the next several days.
The Red Cross is monitoring and has shelters on standby. Call 1-800-272-6668 for more information.
Recreation on waterways is not recommended.
Officials urge landowners to move livestock from flood-prone areas. Widespread flooding, bank erosion, channel migration, road and bridge closures, power outages and damaged water and sewer systems are all possible.
The only known closure in Yellowstone County is Bundy Road.
In Stillwater County, Itch-Kep-Pee Park is closed until river levels subside.
For more information, visit http://cdc.gov/disasters/floods/readiness.html.
