Local Rivers Experiencing Ice Jams

The Gallatin River is currently experiencing ice jams, most noteably in the Big Sky area, due to current weather patterns. These ice jams prevent the water from flowing in it's normal channel resulting in water flowing out of the river banks. People recreating around rivers are encouraged to exercise caution due to these ice jams. When an ice jams breaks the potential for debris, and increased water, being carried down river exists.
It is expected that these ice jams will remain for the near future. Property owners along rivers should monitor river levels on a regular basis to ensure they have time to prepare their houses if water levels do continue to rise. Often times river levels can change quickly and without notice. People recreating along the rivers should also utilize caution due to the unpredictable and potential danger presented by the ice jams.

Communities & Wildfire Conference February 25-27

Registration has now opened for the annual Communities and Wildfire Conference.  This year the conference is being held at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort on February 25-27.  To learn more about the conference, or to register, visit FireSafeMT.org.

Cellular and Internet Phones now capable of Reverse 911

Gallatin County recently received the ability for cellular and internet phone users to associate their phone number with an address for use during an activation of the County's Emergency Preparedness Notification System (a.k.a. Reverse 911). Previously the county only had the ability to call land line telephones when the system was activated due to no way to associate a cellular phone with an address. The County's notification provider, Intrado, has now introduced a method where individuals can enter their cellular and internet phone numbers with their address into Intrado's database through a website. When an individual does this, their numbers will then be associated with the address that was entered.


This still requires that people enter their own information, and keep it current if numbers or addresses change. Gallatin County recommends that people who do not own a land line telephone register their cellular or internet telephone into the system. The Emergency Preparedness Notification System is often utilized for a variety of situations from wildfires and dangerous law enforcement incidents to missing kids and water system problems. Notifying residents of situations in their community is often a time intensive process and having cellular and internet phone numbers in our system helps improve this tool towards expediting public notification.

Individuals can learn more about Gallatin County's Emergency Preparedness Notification System, and register their numbers, at http://ReadyGallatin.com/epns.

Emergency Action Plans for Gallatin County High Hazard Dams now available

Emergency Action Plans for four high hazard dams that affect Gallatin County are now available on ReadyGallatin.com.  A high hazard dam is one of 3 classifications that are used to categorize dams.  A dam which is categorized as a high hazard dam is considered to have the potential to cause loss of life and serious infrastructure damage if it were to fail.  A common misperception is that the term "high hazard" refers to the stability of the dam itself, which it does not.  Emergency Action Plans, as well as inundation maps, are available for viewing on ReadyGallatin.com on our Plans Page.

Final Multiple Patient Incident Plan Released

Gallatin County has completed a multi-month project of revising our Multiple Patient Incident Plan.  Numerous groups and agencies have worked over the past several months on revising and updating the 2006 revision of the previous plan.  A new, more comprehensive version of the plan is now complete and in the process of being adopted by the participating agencies.  A redacted version of the plan is available on ReadyGallatin.com.

Preliminary draft floodplain maps released by FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released drafts of revised floodplain maps for Gallatin County. These preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps are intended to replace maps that were published in the 1980s with better data from more recent studies. Areas in Gallatin County with substantial revisions to the FEMA floodplain maps include: the Big Sky Area; the entire length of the East Gallatin River; the West Gallatin River downstream of Interstate 90; and the Jefferson and Madison rivers in the vicinity of Three Forks. Please note there are no mapped floodplains located within the city limits of Belgrade, Manhattan, or West Yellowstone.


Representatives from FEMA will be in Bozeman in mid-January to participate in meetings with community officials and the general public. Community officials will also hold open houses in January where members of the public can view the preliminary maps and ask questions. Additional notification will be given when these meetings are scheduled. In the mean time, the preliminary maps can be viewed at several locations. For properties in the City of Bozeman, floodplain maps can be viewed at the Engineering Department, 20 E. Olive Street in Bozeman. For properties in the City of Three Forks floodplain maps can be viewed at City Hall, 206 Main Street in Three Forks. For properties in Gallatin County, floodplain maps can be viewed at the Planning Department, 311 W. Main Street, Room #108, in Bozeman.
 
For additional information, please visit:

• National Flood Insurance Program
• FEMA Map Service Center
• DNRC Floodplain Management
• Gallatin County Floodplain Information