After an emergency declaration was issued for Blaine County Monday by Lt. Gov. Brad Little, the Army Corps of Engineers say they're sending a small group to the region to help with flooding.
The Corps is sending a three person crew to assess flood risks to public infrastructure and help Blaine County emergency management staff. Members of the Army Corps team are experts in both hydraulic and civil engineering. Another task the group will assist with is coming up with contingency plans should a worst case scenario unfold.
With parts of Blaine County under mandatory evacuation orders and flooding posing a hazard across much of southern Idaho, the Corps announced they'd provide the Idaho Office of Emergency Management with sandbags. Along with the regular variety, the Idaho Statesman reports the Corps will also provide “super-sandbags” which hold up to 5,000 pounds of sand and have to be moved with heavy machinery.
Rising spring temperatures are expected to keep snowmelt flowing into reservoirs and causing headaches in Ada, Blaine, Elmore, and Canyon Counties for several more weeks.
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