Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Several houses flood in Palouse; two roads closed in Tekoa area
Little Hangman Creek water floods a city park in Tekoa.
PALOUSE - Localized flooding was reported in Palouse, Tekoa and other areas of Whitman County on Monday.
The rising Palouse river prompted the city of Palouse to offer sandbags to residents. Several houses were flooded, city officials said.
In Tekoa, both Little Hangman Creek and Hangman Creek were also spilling out of their banks.
Little Hangman Creek water flooded a city park near City Hall, leaving picnic tables partially submerged.
Brandon Krueger, Maintence Operations Manager of Whitman County Public Works said Golf Course Road and Fanning Road were closed due to flooding near Tekoa, as well.
"We did have to close two roads this morning," he said. "We closed Golf Course road that goes outside of Tekoa and Fanning Road between Tekoa and Oaksdale."
Krueger said the roads are under surveillance and will remain closed until they are safe for motor vehicle traffic
Road close signs are in place and intersecting dirt roads that connect to Golf Course Road are not advisable for travel, he said, adding: "Fanning Road has some other options for drivers. You can go out Warner Road out to Farmington Road or Highway 27."
County public works officials also reported several trees downed on roads, but they were in the process of being removed before press time.
In Palouse, the city offered residents sandbags for pickup at Coleman Oil.
"We just don't have the manpower to help. We went over and got a load of sand about noon for any residents to come down and get sand if they want to fill them," Public Works Superintendent Mike Wolf said.
The city also closed some downtown roads due to flooding, including part of West Main Street, between the two entrances to the city park.
"It's probably Southwest Main about 50 feet or so creeping up the street towards downtown," he said. "We closed West Main for the flooding in the street. It will be closed until the water recedes.
"Lion's Club Park was somewhat submerged, too. When I came down this morning you could see the park's grass and now you cant.
"I would say 85% of it is covered with water now. Its June 14th and I have never seen it like this before here and I have lived here all my life."
Wolf said between 4-5 houses flooded and the city Public Works Shop filling with water from the shop to the office.
"Hopefully, it will recede in a couple of hours," he said Monday afternoon. "We will have quite a bit of cleanup in the next week or so."
The flooding stems from the 0.38 inches of rain recorded overnight Sunday night at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, according to the National Weather Service. More rain is expected throughout the weekend.
"There could be some additional rain from Saturday to Tuesday," a National Weather Service meteorologist is Spokane said. "There is a good chance of some showers. There is a better chance we will see thunderstorms on Friday."
Meanwhile, a flood warning was issued for the Palouse River between Colfax and Potlatch, Idaho.
"The Palouse River is currently at 3.85 feet and trending downward, too," the National Weather Service reported.
The Snake River also rose in depth and is measuring at 16.36 feet,, the agency reported. It's continuing a downward trend, too.
The Snake River reached its peak at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 12, when it reached 16.71 feet following heavy rainfall Saturday.
Tekoa experienced heavy rains and also nears a record high of water levels as Hangman Creek measured at 21.4 feet and rising.
The National Weather Service is forecasting Hangman Creek to begin a downward trend by Wednesday, June 15.
Hangman Creek's current record high sits at 21.7 feet.
So far, Whitman County has not reached any June rainfall records.
Pullman Airport reports receives an average of 3.28 inches of precipitation for the month of June.
To reach a record high, an additional 0.2 inches of rain is required. Records date back to 1893.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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