Damage Reporting

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to report their damage that they incurred during the June 30th hail storm.  While it is unknown what assistance may, or may not, be available, people are encouraged to report the damage that ocurred.  Determining an estimate on the damage incurred is important for us in determining if we may be eligible for any assistance programs.  People are encouraged to submit the following:

• Name
• Address
• Contact Info
• Do you rent or own?
• Do you have insurance?
• What is your deductible?
• What do you estimate the cost of your damage is? (This does not need to be exact, just a guess)
• What was the value of your property before the damage? (This does not need to be exact, just a guess)
• A brief description of the damage

Please email this information to damage@gcem.us.  If assistance programs do become available, people who have submitted their information will be contacted with what programs are available.

Information on the federal assistance programs are available here.

Big Sky Wildfire Preparedness Event

Big Sky Wildfire Preparedness Event

Monday June 21, 2010 at 5:00 PM

Ousel Falls Trailhead

Free BBQ, Smokey Bear, and Emergency Services vehicles will be present.

Learn how you can be prepared for wildfires and what funding is available to help you!

Information on assessing your wildfire risk and mitigation strategies will also be available.

Click here for flyer

Gallatin County Wildfire Preparedness Website

Spring Runoff in Gallatin County

Many rivers in Gallatin County are currently experiencing increased flows due to the normal spring runoff.  Residents are reminded that water levels can change quickly this time of year presenting  life safety and property hazards.  People, and their children, who are around moving water should use caution and exercise flood safety practices (available here).  The current and debris carried in these waterways can present unexpected hazards.

Residents that feel their property may be at risk for flooding should take the necessary precautions ahead of time to protect their property.  The change between high water, and water flooding your property, can often occur extremely fast and frequently during the night.  It is often to late to protect your property after the flooding has occurred, this should be done before the flooding occurs.  If your property is prone to flooding, or you think it might be flooded, you should act before flooding occurs to protect it.

The two most common methods of building dikes to protect from flooding include sandbags or hay bales wrapped in plastic.  Sandbags can be obtained from several local hardware/ gravel suppliers in the Bozeman and Belgrade areas.  Information on using sandbags is available here.

Information on flooding in Gallatin County, including current river levels, is available at http://www.readygallatin.com/flooding.php.

Informational Meeting on EIA Set for Gallatin County Horse Owners

Montana Department of Livestock

301 N. Roberts/PO Box 202001
Helena MT 59620-2001
http://liv.mt.gov/



 


May 19, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steve Merritt
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
406/444-9431

Informational Meeting on EIA Set for Gallatin County Horse Owners

The Montana Department of Livestock's Animal Health Division has scheduled a meeting to update Gallatin County horse owners on its epidemiological investigation of two horses recently infected with equine infectious anemia (EIA). The meeting is set for 10 a.m. on Monday, May 17, at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds (Building #4).

EIA in Gallatin County was first reported on April 26 after a Coggins test – a screening test for EIA required for movement into or out of Montana – performed by the department's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory identified the disease in one of three horses at a premises near Gallatin Gateway. The disease was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, and subsequent testing identified and confirmed the disease in a second horse at the premises.

The two horses are currently quarantined pending transfer to the NVSL later this month.

Dr. Tahnee Szymanski, a staff veterinarian for the department, said the news about EIA created quite a stir among Gallatin County horse owners.

"We've had a lot of calls from horse owners," she said. "They are understandably concerned, and our goal is providing accurate, up to date information on the disease as well as our investigation."

Szymanski added that horse owners concerned about EIA "can buy some piece of mind" by having their horses Coggins tested.

"We recommend annual testing, and like to see horses that travel for equine-related events tested twice a year," she said.

Also known as swamp fever, EIA is potentially fatal viral disease of equines spread by biting insects like horse and deer flies that feed on blood. No vaccine or treatment exists for the disease, which is characterized by intermittent fever, depression, progressive weakness, weight loss, edema (fluid under the skin or in body cavities) and anemia. The disease is not contagious, and cannot be passed to humans.

For additional information about EIA or the meeting, please contact Dr. Szymanski or public information officer Steve Merritt at 406/444-2043.

###

Skywarn Spotter Training

A free Weather Spotter Class will be conducted by the National Weather Service on May 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Bozeman Fire Station 3, 1705 Vaquero in Bozeman. Students will learn about weather safety, thunderstorms, how to spot severe weather and properly call it in to the NWS, which relies on spotters in the field to provide information that supplements the high tech weather data that is received from radar and other sources.

 

Highlights  

• Ever wonder how thunderstorms develop?
• What makes a thunderstorm severe?
• Where can I get detailed weather hazard information?
• We will answer these questions and many, many more!

Location:

Bozeman Fire Station 3

1705 Vaquero in Bozeman (next to County Regional Park)

Contact:  Ben Schott (406) 727-0283

 

Click for Flyer!

 

Final signed version of Multiple Patient Incident Plan available

The final signed version of the Gallatin County Multiple Patient Incident Plan (redacted) is now available on ReadyGallatin.com.  This plan is an update to the original MPI Plan written in the 1990's and involved representatives from mulitple agencies working to update it.  The MPI Plan outlines the framework that Gallatin County emergency response agencies work under during an incident that has multiple patients and the potential to overload the normal medical system.  The redacted version is available in our plan section.

Spring Run Off Safety

With spring upon us, and the mountain snowpack quickly melting, the possibility of flooding is always present.  While there is presently no flooding, flooding can quickly occur and become an issue.  Residents are encouraged to treat any situation with swift moving water, or flooding, with caution and follow these safety tips:

• Do Not Walk Through Flowing Water
• Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Most occur during flash floods. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Use a pole or stick to make sure that the ground is still there before you go through an area where the water is not flowing.
• Do Not Drive Through a Flooded Area
• Most people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don't drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.
• Stay Away From Power Lines and Electrical Wires
• Electrocution is also a major killer in floods. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to your utility company or local emergency manager.
• Turn Off Your Electricity When You Return Home
• Some appliances, such as television sets, can shock you even after they have been unplugged. Don't use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned, and dried.
• Watch for Animals, Especially Snakes
• Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn items over and scare away small animals.
• Look Before You Step
• After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.
• Be Alert for Gas Leaks
• Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don't smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you are sure that the gas has been turned off and the area has been aired out.
• Carbon Monoxide Exhaust Kills
• Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machine outdoors. The same goes for camping stoves. Fumes from charcoal are especially deadly -- cook with charcoal only outdoors.
• Clean Everything That Get Wet
• Floodwaters have picked up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms, factories, and storage buildings. Spoiled food and flooded cosmetics and medicines are health hazards. When in doubt, throw them out.
• Take Good Care of Yourself
• Recovering from a flood is a big job. It is tough on both the body and the spirit. And the effects a disaster has on you and your family may last a long time. Learn how to recognize and care for anxiety, stress, and fatigue.

 If residents observe clogged ditches or culverts they are encourged to let their local public works agency know of the situation.

Additional information is available on flooding and river levels at ReadyGallatin.com.