Lander Flood Update: Fremont County dodges biggest bullet
by Wyoming National Guard
June 17, 2010
Editor’s note: Below is a media release update on flooding from melt water from the east side of the Wind River Mountains which has caused significant flooding since early June impacting the Lander area:
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LANDER - River levels will not hit near-record levels in Fremont County, Wyo. according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologist Charles Baker said flood waters will persist through the end of the week, but indicators are not pointing toward the levels county residents battled last week.
"It looks like the worst case is not going to come for us," Baker said.
Emergency flood operations will continue as the waters are evaluated. Two Wyoming Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters are available to assist emergency responders with rescues and medical evacuations if needed. The helicopters arrived Wednesday, under the authority of Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal.
Fremont County offers free well water testing
The recent flooding in Fremont County has resulted in overland flows and inundated septic systems; placing water wells at risk for contamination.
"If you feel your well may have been contaminated, it is imperative that the well water be tested for safety prior to drinking or washing with well water," said Jeri Trebelcock, with the Popo Agie Conservation District.
The district is coordinating a county-wide effort to provide free rural well water testing to rural landowners who may have experienced well contamination. If a well water sample tests positive for total coliform, a second test will be run for E.coli bacteria.
"A positive test may mean that feces and harmful germs have found their way into the water system," said Trebelcock.
County residents may pick up a free sampling kit and return the well water samples to any of the identified locations, from June 21 to June 25.
Locations include:
Lander - Popo Agie Conservation District, 221 S. 2nd Street, 307-332-3114,
Riverton - Lower Wind River Conservation District, 509 North Broadway, 307-856-7524,
Dubois - Dubois-Crowheart Conservation District, 706 Meckem Street, 307-455-3688 (from June 21-22 only ),
Fort Washakie - Wind River Environmental Quality Commission, Bldg 10 Washakie Street, 307-332-3164
Samples should be collected the morning of the test day and brought directly to the drop-off locations. All samples must be received at the drop off locations prior to noon on the testing days to be processed. Results of the analysis will be mailed directly to the landowner. If the well has tested positive for total coliform or E.coli bacteria, a bulletin will be included with the results to provide information to address the contamination.
For more information, call the PACD office at 307-332-3114.
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Fremont County Flood 2010 Quick Stats
Location: Fremont County, Wyo.; communities include Lander, Hudson, Riverton, Fort Washakie, Ethete, Arapahoe.
Timeline: Flood mitigation began June 5, Wyoming National Guard activated June 7, flood waters begin receding (initially) June 12, water levels increase (second week) June 15
Scope: 32 square miles affected; 2,100 homes in the affected area; 140 homes
at risk of flooding or flooded; 500,000 sandbags dispersed.
Serious injuries/fatalities: None reported
Sheltered evacuees: Nine at Great Plains Hall
Emergency shelters: American Red Cross shelters at Lander Valley High School field house, 350 Baldwin Creek Road, and Riverton Middle School, 840 Major Ave.; Northern Arapahoe shelters at Great Plains Hall, 9 Great Plains Road, Arapahoe, Wyo., and Wyoming Indian Elementary School, 23 Coolidge Drive, Ethete, Wyo.; and Eastern Shoshoni shelter at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house in Fort Washakie, Wyo., 12712 Highway 287
Wyoming National Guard: 388 Soldiers and Airmen; first activation, June 7
Volunteer efforts: More than 31,500 volunteer hours, covering more than 400 personnel from more than 52 federal state, county, municipal and private agencies; on site since June 5
For more information contact:
Christian Venhuizen
Public information officer
Fremont County Flood 2010 Incident Command
Ph: 307-709-4126
Email: wyoguard@gmail.com
Website: www.facebook.com/fremontcountyflood2010
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