WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS UNTIL 1:45 A.M. AND FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 A.M. FRIDAY. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. THE UNDERPASS IS IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING AND THE AREA BY THE COLLEGE IS UNDER WATER; HOWEVER, THERE ARE SECONDARY AND SIDE STREETS THAT MAY ALSO BE FLOODED AT THIS TIME.

[This message has been edited by Jersey Girl (6/26/2014)]

You haven't lived here very long, have you? What you are describing happens every time there is a heavy rain. Nothing to panic about. Seriously.

When I was a small child, my father used to complain that the storm sewers in Miles City were designed to handle a dry day in August. And those storm sewers, which were installed c. 1910, are mostly still in place and mostly still not doing a very good job.

On the upside, I loved splashing through those 'lakes' created during a summer storm. We called the one in front of our house "Lake Freese."

A 'flash flood' warning applies to rivers and creeks flooding, not the storm sewers. Weather service pops them up whenever heavy rain is expected.

Amorette, if Noah had that same laissez-faire attitude, would we be here today...HUH!...would we? I think not.

Consider the grasshopper or the ant that doesn't lay up winter stores. Ponder the anorexic bear that doesn't take the winter hibernation seriously.

I say, sand bag, head for higher ground, hoard fresh water, arm yourself, get thee to a nunnery, run in ever widening circles, screaming and renting your garments in twain. The end is nigh.

As they say on the bicycling forum, "Don't forget the ice cream sandwiches and thank you notes."

Be nice Tucker!!!

The underpass now has an overheight detector but it is still lacking an underheight (underwater?) detector.

The underpass now has an overheight detector but it is still lacking an underheight (underwater?) detector. big grin

Yep, and the over-height detector was not enough for a fellow and his big old 'tall' 5th wheel the other day. Air conditioner was scattered about on the road.

Would it be at all possible to install something like 'railroad gates' attached to the stone pillars of the underpass that could be activated during a storm to block access? It would be nice to not hear from police dispatch that their resources are again being used at the underpass when they are needed elsewhere. Other potential flooding areas in town would appreciate a little help also.

Because the structure was built in 1932, I don't know how much weight it could hold. And who would pay for it, of course.

If people didn't try to drive through the flooded underpass, we wouldn't have as big a problem. Last big storm, people drove AROUND the gates for the privilege of getting stuck.

Problem is, the underpass serves as water retention. Empty it and Main Street floods. High water table, old storm sewer system, dramatic rains, all lead to our problems and there is no easy and/or cheap solution.

It will quit raining soon and then we'll be griping about how dry it is!

Last big storm, people drove AROUND the gates for the privilege of getting stuck.

Are you sure about this fact?

I know that is what the Star reported, but I drove by after it happened and gates were not closed on either side. Possibly, they were closed and opened again, but I have to wonder what really happened.

[This message has been edited by MRH (6/27/2014)]

OK so how about this scenario. If you are stupid enough to drive through the underpass when it is flooding and get stuck police dispatch would tell you their resources are being used in other areas of town and 'idiot you' will have to wait. Perhaps a few times of that would stop the problem.

OK so how about this scenario. If you are stupid enough to drive through the underpass when it is flooding and get stuck police dispatch would tell you their resources are being used in other areas of town and 'idiot you' will have to wait. Perhaps a few times of that would stop the problem.

Come on now, hopefully, you know folks in Miles City and Custer County are more resourceful than that. Most have cell phones and friends with trucks, chains, and tow ropes. Heck, I've even heard of some young folks wading in and pushing vehicles as far as possible by hand.

That is fine, call friends, call the mayor, call your congressman as long as we who are also flooding can get some police and city help.

That is fine, call friends, call the mayor, call your congressman as long as we who are also flooding can get some police and city help.

That leaves me out, as I live in the country.

This problem is not unique to Miles City. I've seen it happen in any town I've lived in with water problems and underpasses. It was a very common occurrence in Tucson.

Don't drive through deep water. How hard is that to figure out?

I have watched idiots getting stuck in the underpass my whole life. I've also seen people swimming in Lake Subway when it floods. High water table, heavy rain. . . been there, will be doing that until I die or move.

Probably have more of the same tonight so be prepared. I recommend a lantern and a good book.

I immediately thought of Frankie MacDonald:



[This message has been edited by J. Dyba (6/27/2014)]

So Amorette as you have seen this underpass fiasco happen your whole life perhaps you can explain why the underpass is the police and city's first priority. Having personally called dispatch during these downpours and been told they can't help because cars are stuck in the underpass what can we do to change this. I understand perfectly that the underpass fills to protect Main Street, which is only right, but others need help to prevent actual houses from flooding. I know for instance that Southgate has requested city barriers to prevent people from driving down Ponderosa and pushing the water into houses but have been denied because of the underpass and its continued use of the city's resources. All I am asking is a solution where we all get equal treatment and if you are dumb enough to drive through a flooded underpass you can wait your turn and others of us can receive some attention.

Josh, that just made my day haha

I had .6in wednesday, 1.2 thurs afternoon, 1.6 thursday night.

I'm confused...

jjj... are you thinking that it is the cop's job of protecting your HOUSE? Instead of protecting the public.. in the case of flooding?

The underpass is a top priority due to the fact, as you YOURSELF already stated, that people can be.. dumb.. sometimes... but they are also plenty of people, let's take the elderly for example, who sometimes will get their selves and vehicles stuck. The cops will go out and do what they do to avoid accidents like that.

The police, I think, their top priority is public safety. A person's home, in the case of flooding, would NOT take precedent over the welfare and safety of the general public in a PUBLIC setting, such as the underpass.

It ALMOST sounds like you EXPECT the police to come running because you would call and say:

"Help 911! My house is flooding because of the rain and flooding and water and stuff"

"Are you in Danger?"

"No, but I and my stuff are getting wet!"

If that's not it, then what ARE you trying to say?

omg... on an off topic... just read something and I totally see an awesome Viagra joke right now...

But I won't...

Anyone, living in town can get anywhere in the city by alternate routes. This entire, "Sky is Falling" conversation is inane. This is almost as ridiculous as some of the arguments for cutting Strevell all the way through. Some people said it would shorten their commute.

That's right, someone living in Miles City used the word "commute". There is no commute if you live and work within the city limits. Driving from the central business district, on Main, (pre-walmart) to Haynes is a five minute drive. It can take up to ten minutes during the school year and dealing with that pesky four way stop. *It is fair to add five minutes to any trip within the city for almost any amount of rain or snow, when taking an alternate route.

*Lemmings excluded.

As Frankie says DON'T DRIVE YOUR CARS THROUGH THE PUDDLES ESPECIALLY THE DEEP ONES.

Tucker wrote:

"...cutting Strevell all the way..."

Stower.

What pesky 4 way stop are you referring to. If it is the one on Strevell and you are referring to the 4 way stop signs, it is now a stop light and the pesky wait isn't that bad.

Flood warnings in Miles City...how many cars have I seen under the underpass? Too many to count. The funniest one was when one had already stalled out and another drove in to prove it wasn't that bad!

To each his own entertainment.

My only concern with the flood warnings was when they mentioned it might impact the interstate for those attempting to drive out of town.

Septy Two I do not need the police to save me or my stuff. What I do need are 4 barriers to block off a portion of the street (people can still go around the block) to prevent idiots who think it is funny to drive back and forth and see how much water they can push into the garages which then end up in the house. The city will not leave barriers for us to use and we are required to go through dispatch. You have implied that I am not sensitive to the safety of others which is completely untrue. But I wonder if you checked how many of the cars stuck in the underpass over the last 35 years were driven by the elderly and how many by "others" Want to total your car and collect insurance, drive it into the underpass in a storm. Want your friends to think you are cool drive your car into the underpass in a storm. And I could go on.
In any case I started on this thread by asking about "railroad gates" attached to the pillars of the underpass as perhaps a solution. Amorette pointed out the age of the pillars so that does not seem to be a viable option.As long as we are required to go through police dispatch I guess we will continue to deal with our flooding issues. I hope that you never have to deal with an issue that has been openly known for 35 years with no solution. You could try to understand that yes these are just properties and 'stuff' but many people take pride in their homes and yards and our street should not be used as a water park for the amusement of others
I'm done on this thread, thanks Amorette for your input.

well then,

it would have been a lot better to mention all that in the beginning...

lol...