Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

National Parks

Yellowstone River receding; Billings flood warning canceled

The Montana community had shut down its water treatment plant

Julia Musto By Julia Musto Fox News
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for June 16 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for June 16

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Flooding in Yellowstone National Park threatened to cut off fresh drinking water to residents of Montana’s largest city on Wednesday. 

However, on Thursday, the National Weather Service office in Billings said that the flood warning for the river in Billings had been canceled. 

"Water levels will continue to quickly recede today. Please continue to heed all road closures, and be alert for damage to rural roads that were flooded," it said in a tweet. 

The Yellowstone River – the residents' water source – had raced past at a historic level of 16 feet. 

MONTANA NATIONAL GUARD LAUNCHES RESCUE MISSIONS FOR PEOPLE STRANDED BY 'SIGNIFICANT' FLOODING

The city was forced to shut down its treatment plant, because it couldn't operate effectively with water levels that high, and had only a 24- to 36-hour supply, asking the people there to conserve. 

Billings had stopped watering parks and the fire department filled its trucks with river water. 

  • park
    Image 1 of 4

    The entrance to Yellowstone National Park, a major tourist attraction, sits closed due to the historic floodwaters, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Gardiner, Montana. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Image 2 of 4

    Pedestrians walk down a street washed away from Rock Creek floodwaters in Red Lodge, Mont., Wednesday, June 15, 2022.  (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Image 3 of 4

    A resident carries out damaged items from his flooded home along a washed out street in Red Lodge, Mont., Wednesday, June 15, 2022. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Image 4 of 4

    A home is shown in flood waters Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Livingston, Mt. Yellowstone National Park officials say more than 10,000 visitors have been ordered out of the nation's oldest national park after unprecedented flooding. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

The nation's oldest national park said it was taking precautionary measures to make sure wastewater and water treatment facilities are not failing. 

Officials in Park County, including Gardiner, said on Facebook on Monday night that flooding had made drinking water unsafe in many areas. 

PARTS OF YELLOWSTONE COULD REMAIN CLOSED FOR 'SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH' AFTER FLOODING

The event has closed the park to visitors and more than 10,000 were evacuated.

The National Guard in Montana has rescued 87 people, according to the Department of Defense.

  • Image 1 of 3

    A house sits in Rock Creek after floodwaters washed away a road and a bridge in Red Lodge, Mont., Wednesday, June 15, 2022.  (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Image 2 of 3

    A collapsed train bridge is shown along the Yellowstone River Wednesday, June 15, 2022, near Livingston, Mont.  (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

  • Image 3 of 3

    Highway workers inspect a washed out bridge along the Yellowstone River Wednesday, June 15, 2022, near Gardiner, Mont.  (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

The floods, which hit following heavy rain combined with melting mountain snow, damaged hundreds of homes and washed out roads and bridges, but no one was reported hurt or killed. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The northern part of the park will be closed for an extended period of time, according to officials. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Julia Musto is a reporter for Fox News and Fox Business Digital.