UPDATE: 6:15 p.m. July 27, 2024
Below is an update from Missoula County regarding services for residents following Wednesday's storm.
RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER, WATER: The Red Cross will continue to be at the Elections Center, 140 N. Russell St. in Missoula, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day until power is restored countywide. Residents are welcome to charge essential personal devices and take a shower (bring towels and personal hygiene products). No medical services or medication refrigeration are available at this site. The Missoula Public Library is also open during regular hours and has power, internet and charging stations.
Currents Aquatics Center, 600 Cregg Lane in McCormick Park, will be open for showers only on Sunday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The pool will not be open on Sunday. People can call 406-721-PARK (7275) for info.
DEBRIS MANAGEMENT: County and City Public Works continue to prioritize debris pick up blocking public rights-of-way, including streets/roads, sidewalks and alleys. They do not have capacity to pick up debris from private property. Residents should not move their yard debris to boulevards, sidewalks or streets. Also avoid moving debris into alleyways. This can interfere with power companies' ability to address the power outage.
The incident management team continues to explore options for public debris drop sites in Lolo, Frenchtown and Seeley Lake, though options may to be limited.
The drop-off sites listed below remain available for residents to drop off debris from the storm at no cost. These sites are currently experiencing long wait times. Officials request that residents with low-priority debris (i.e., it's not blocking their driveway or causing other access issues) wait to drop it off, if possible.
They will be open for the next two weeks; certain sites have designated hours. The McCormick Park site is no longer open (see updated map, attached.) Users should follow all on-site signage and traffic control staff and only drop debris in designated areas.
People should use the Garden City Compost site when possible, as all the debris dropped off at the other sites ends up there. Officials are working on extending the hours there.
- Garden City Compost (1125 Clark Fork Lane, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday)
- Fort Missoula (36th Street lot)
- Larchmont triangle (access of Post Siding Road)
- Fort Missoula Ponds (access via 40th Avenue, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Russell Street (access parking lot between YMCA and Russell Elementary)
- City of Missoula Northside Lot (access off Shakespeare Street)
- University of Montana parking lot at South Avenue and Higgins (enter from Higgins)
Saturday morning July 27, 2024
More resources are available following Wednesday's night storm for residents who still have no power. Below is a press release from Missoula County with information you need to know for this Saturday.
WATER, ICE AVAILABLE: Bagged ice and water are available Saturday at Fort Missoula Regional Park off South Avenue for residents still without power. Potable water for drinking and non-potable water is available for livestock (water should not be used for irrigating). Bring your own containers for water. Limit of four bags of ice per vehicle. Be mindful of additional traffic congestion due to debris drop-off and other events in the area. Bagged ice provided by Missoula County, City of Missoula and NorthWestern Energy.
WHEN TO CALL 9-1-1: The 9-1-1 Center is still receiving non-emergent calls. People should only call 9-1-1 for true emergencies, i.e. criminal activity, life-threatening incidents, serious injuries, car accidents. People can call 406-258-INFO with non-emergent questions, such as trees in yards or where to take debris.
RIVER CLOSURES: The following river closures will remain in effect until further notice due to power lines still in the water.
- The Clark Fork River is closed from Milltown State Park, just east of Missoula, to the county line at Petty Creek, just west of town.
- The Bitterroot River is closed from Chief Looking Glass FAS near Florence to the confluence with the Clark Fork River near Missoula.
- Rattlesnake Creek and Greenough Park are also closed until further notice.
- People should not recreate in or around the water. Assume any downed power lines are energized.
POWER RESTORATION: The latest status update from NorthWestern Energy is available on their website. People should keep in mind that it takes longer to restore power during wildfire season because officials have to be more careful when fire danger is high and power lines can easily spark new fires. Conditions remain hot and dry, and fires start more easily and spread rapidly.
CONTINUE TO LIMIT WATER USE: It's critical to conserve water right now, especially in the South Hills and Linda Vista. Missoula Water is still running on generators. Do not water lawns. Also limit domestic use, which includes washing machines, dishwashers and showers/baths.
