“I have declared a statewide disaster due to flooding to help impacted communities get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Gianforte said via Twitter.
On Monday, the National Park Service said in a statement that the Yellowstone National Park closed all inbound traffic through its five entrances due to heavy flooding, rockslides, mudslides and other hazardous conditions on the roadways there. There are power outs in multiple areas of the park, the statement said.
Communities in the northern parts of the park, such as the town of Gardiner, were completely cut off as a result of the flooding, the statement added.
Montana and the state of Wyoming will work with Yellowstone’s gateway communities to assess the impacts and provide support to residents, according to the statement.