Montana - Yellowstone National Park closed indefinitely after major flooding washed away roads and isolated communities in southern Montana and Wyoming. All entrances to the park were closed from Monday due to "heavy flooding, rockslides and extremely hazardous conditions."
Floodwaters highest in more than a century tore through Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas, sweeping away houses, washing out bridges and roads, stranding tourists and residents, and prompting frantic helicopter and raft rescues.
Hundreds of people remained isolated Tuesday at the north of the park, after the Yellowstone River crested higher than ever recorded in a chocolate brown torrent that washed away anything in its path.
By Wednesday, more than 10,000 people were thought to be in the park when the historic flooding took place, but fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Major sections of the park's northern half are expected to remain closed for the rest of the season, dealing an economic blow to adjacent gateway communities counting on a rebound in Yellowstone tourism for the park's 150th anniversary following two years of COVID-19 restrictions.
The upheaval followed one of the region's wettest springs in many years and coincided with a sudden spike in summer temperatures that has hastened runoff of melting snow in the park's higher elevations from late-winter storms.
Record flooding and rockslides prompted park officials to shut down all five entrances to Yellowstone to inbound traffic on Tuesday, marking the park's first disaster-related closing in summer since wildfires roared through the area in 1988.
Mike Darby, owner of the historic Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyoming told Reuters that he expects local residents will band together to help each other and visitors navigate an uncertain season, much as they did during the 1988 fire.
Drinking water may be compromised in areas affected by the flooding. Officials warn water from wells that had been submerged in flood water may not be safe to drink.
The Yellowstone River runs along Highway 89 in areas where businesses frequented by park visitors would typically be packed in the busy summer months.
Yellowstone National Park, a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area, sits on top of a dormant volcano and is home to half the world’s active geysers and hot springs. Wonders abound at this truly unique national park, from sites like the Yellowstone Grand Canyon to wildlife like America's largest buffalo herd, grizzly bears, and wolves.
On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park giving visitors unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
During March-August this year, the park and partners had lined in several activities to reflect on 150 years of protecting Yellowstone National Park, highlight successes in the ecosystem, and open dialogue on the lessons learned from yesterday, the challenges of today, and a vision for tomorrow.
-AP/Reuters