Looks like Yellowstone National Park is getting rains of biblical proportions.
According to The Hill, Yellowstone has faced flooding so severe today, that it’s closing off roads and bridges, one of which has been swept away.
Officials were forced to close all five entrances to the park and had to evacuate visitors from the northern part of the park as well. Visitors were notified that the park was being temporarily closed due to “extremely hazardous conditions.”
They will be evacuating visitors our of the south part of the park as well.
“The park’s helicopter manager recorded the video from the park’s helicopter of the Gardner River and portions of the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and the North Entrance through the Gardner Canyon.
Segments of the paved road are eroded and washed out in several places due to high water levels.”
Superintendent Cam Sholly also said the park may stay closed for quite a while with more rain in the forecast:
“Our first priority has been to evacuate the northern section of the park where we have multiple road and bridge failures, mudslides and other issues.
The community of Gardiner is currently isolated, and we are working with the county and State of Montana to provide necessary support to residents, who are currently without water and power in some areas.
Due to predictions of higher flood levels in areas of the park’s southern loop, in addition to concerns with water and wastewater systems, we will begin to move visitors in the southern loop out of the park later today in coordination with our in-park business partners.
We will not know timing of the park’s reopening until flood waters subside and we’re able to assess the damage throughout the park. It is likely that the northern loop will be closed for a substantial amount of time.
I appreciate the efforts of the Yellowstone team and partners to safely evacuate areas of the park and of our gateway community partners who are helping us through this major event.
We appreciate the support offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service and the Montana and Wyoming governors.”
The videos (recorded from helicopters) coming out of Yellowstone right now are pretty intense. Floods, mudslides, impassable roads and bridges
