Disaster Declared in Elmore County

BOISE, Idaho (KTVB) -- A disaster declaration has been issued for Elmore County. The declaration was approved by Gov. Butch Otter today to ensure the safety of those living in Atlanta, and enables access to federal and state funding to repair the damage.

The Atlanta Highway District reports heavy rain and flooding at the beginning of August in areas that had burned in recent years, causing landslides that redirected the flow of the Boise River.

As a result, the Middle Fork Road has been washed out for approximately 600 feet and the Boise River is flooding another portion of the road blocking access to the community of Atlanta. Engineers have estimate repairs to exceed $2 million.