http://home.rmci.net/lincolnsheriff/disaster.htm 

Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Lincoln County has three incorporated communities: Dietrich (pop. 150), Richfield (412), and Shoshone (1,398). The total population for the county in 2000 was -. That is an increase of 22% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 1,206 square miles.

Historical Background

Established March 18, 1895 with its county seat at Shoshone. Lincoln was much larger originally, in 1913 Gooding and Minidoka took about half the original Lincoln County, after the creation of Jerome in 1919, Lincoln was left with only 1,206 square miles. Named for President Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States, under whose administration the Idaho Territory was established.

County Seat: Shoshone

Wildland Fire - 8-9/2000

Event Summary:    $1,000,000,000.00 - Over 1,541 fires burned in Idaho in 2000, scorching over 7 million acres.  A federal disaster declaration was declared on  September 1, 2000 .  Several times DEQ issued air quality advisories due to intense smoke; air cleaners and fans were sent to Salmon on August 21, 2000 .  Over 3 million acres of public and state lands were closed, including more than 2,000 miles of trails, 80 miles of river, and nearly all public airstrips.  The Salmon River was closed for 26 days, affecting  4,000 outfitter floaters, 2300 private floaters, and 140 commercial jet boaters, resulting in lost income and employment for local communities.  13 fires caused evacuations of 14-16 locations,  109 structures were destroyed.  Critical wildlife habitat was destroyed.

County Summary: 700 head of cattle were lost on a ranch near Dietrich.

Interagency Wildland Rehabilitation and Hazard Mitigation Team Report

Drought - 1987-1992

Event Summary:   7 year drought, from 1987-1992.    This period saw the worst water shortage since the 1977 drought.   In 1987, Idaho requested $5.8 million in Emergency Conservation Funds to aid drought-stricken farmers.   In 1988, in Oneida County the Deep Creek Reservoir was shut off half-way through irrigation season because the water level was so low it was filling the sprinkler system with mud and silt.   Throughout the drought, reservoirs were consistently below capacity, resulting in irrigation water ending earlier than normal, crops being plowed under or not planted at all, and recreational activities being curtailed.   The drought caused high water temperatures in rivers, and the lack of perennial grass growth caused livestock to be removed from public lands early, while wildlife starved in many wintering areas.  Conservation measures were instituted for residential and commercial use.  Wells used for residential and agricultural sectors ran dry, and a moratorium on new wells was instituted.   In 1992 alone, $500 million was lost in agricultural production.

County Summary: 7 year drought (1987-1992) saw the worst water shortage in the state since the 1977 drought.

The Idaho Statesman; Idaho State Journal; Idaho Press Tribune; Times-News; Spokesman

Pestilence - 1985

Event Summary:   Grasshopper infestation led to pesticide spraying on over 6 million acres of range; Ada , Elmore, Owyhee and Minidoka counties declared a disaster by USDA, state disaster declaration  6/18/85 .

County Summary: Grasshopper infestation

The Idaho Statesman 3/1/86

Flood -  February 10-14, 1962

Event Summary:    $15,000,000.00 - Floods were touched off when prolonged rain and warm temperatures combined to melt mountain snow packs and send the runoff rushing into the lowlands faster than the still frozen ground could absorb.  A federal disaster declaration was issued  2/14/62 after extensive flooding along the Portneuf River and its tributaries, The Snake and Teton Rivers,  inundating an area from Sugar City to Malad and from Aberdeen to Soda Springs.  Throughout the area, numerous earthen dams and levees collapsed, roads were closed, bridges damaged, houses and businesses flooded.  National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers responded to the areas in hopes of stopping additional flooding.  Damage was estimated at more than $15 million.  Damage to over 1500 homes was reported.

County Summary: $50,000.00 - Damage from floodwaters was mostly to roads.

The Idaho Statesman 18Feb62

Earthquake -  November 11, 1905

Event Summary:  Earthquake shook SW Idaho and Northern Utah .  Magnitude 5.5, Intensity V.

County Summary: At Shoshone, the earthquake was strong enough to crack walls and plaster, break dishes.

Harpham, Lyda Koll

Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues