Don't Build too Close to the River

[qwee]

Yellowstone flooding.

 

[begreen]

The Yellowstone north entry highway destruction along the Gardiner River is tragic. That is our normal way of entering the park. It's in really bad shape now. Parts are totally gone. A major bridge in a town north of the park also was wiped out by the flooding.

 

[Ashful]

I'm assuming that this house was originally on solid ground, excavated by the river before the video started, and not built half hanging over the river? If so, that's tragic.

Then again, if not... what did the owners expect?

 

[begreen]

It is a tragedy. The river undermined large chunks of land as it rounded corners. Look at the second video to see the extent of damage to the highway. This highway is one of the gateways to hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the park. Five families lived in this home. They barely had time to get possessions out. There is a go fund me to help them out.

Loss of home in Gardiner, MT after major flood, organized by Lauren McGarvey

Hi all, I am fundraising for the folks who lost their home today to the… Lauren McGarvey needs your support for Loss of home in Gardiner, MT after major flood

www.gofundme.com

The towns of Gardiner and Red Lodge got hit hard. Major infrastructure was taken out by the raging floodwaters including a critical bridge. They have no power or drinking water in areas. This was a thriving town set in a beautiful area. It will take a long time to recover.

Towns north of Yellowstone have no power, drinkable water amid flood

Several southern Montana towns, including Gardiner and Red Lodge, were experiencing the same severe flooding that shut down Yellowstone National Park.

www.9news.com

Dramatic video shows large house collapsing into Yellowstone River amid historic floods

The flooding triggered evacuations, cut off electricity and forced Yellowstone officials to close all entrances indefinitely.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[begreen]

Looking at Google maps the house was set back about 150' from the river up on the bank. This flooding was 2' over the previous record set in 1918! The flooding is now affecting towns hundreds of miles downstream.

 

[begreen]

The aftermath of the flooding. Recovery will take a long time.

AP PHOTOS: Nature's forces on display in Yellowstone flood

Some of the forces of nature that helped shape Yellowstone National Park into one of America's most beloved landscapes unleashed a frightening flood this week as warm rains combined with a rapidly melting snowpack to overwhelm waterways.

apnews.com

 

[peakbagger]

The problem with mountainous regions is that the only flat place to build is logically the river valleys which are nice and flat inevitably ancient floodplain. The common thought long ago was that with the right amount of engineering, rivers can be "tamed" they really cannot, they move, try to contain them in a flood and the velocity just defklects somewhere else. Add in a more energetic atmosphere due to global warming and solutions that used to work are not working anymore.

 

[crstrode]

It is not the distance FROM the river that counts, it is the distance ABOVE the river

 

[Ashful]

The aftermath of the flooding. Recovery will take a long time.

Definitely. But I had lunch today with a young business owner from Ukraine. All things in perspective...

 

[begreen]

It is not the distance FROM the river that counts, it is the distance ABOVE the river

True, though the problem is the narrow river canyon makes higher building sites and roads very challenging and expensive until the river reaches the more level ground. This flooding was 2 ft over the previous record set over a century ago. It was dirt roads and wagon paths back then. With lessons learned, distance and higher ground will be the rule I hope.