Alisha Beekman woke up on Wednesday to her 10-year-old screaming–floodwaters that tore through Red Lodge, Montana had come without warning and made it inside Beekman’s home.
She told CBS News’ Jonathan Vigliotti, “The water was moving so quickly and rising at such a rapid pace that I had to get the breakers off.”
Her family was able to flee the accident but they are now working to repair the damage caused by the same water that destroyed Yellowstone National Park earlier in the week.
The popular tourist spot for summer has been closed due to flooding over the past few days.
Experts believe that the flooding could cause irreparable damage to one of America’s most beloved landmarks.
“We’re going to experience more extreme weather events as a result of climate change. We are seeing this not only in Montana, but all over the country and the world. “Events that exceed what we have seen in recorded history,” said Cathy Whitlock, a Montana State University scientist and professor of earth sciences.
Whitlock is concerned that even the most protected national parks in the country are at risk from our changing climate.
“We must plan for climate change. Yellowstone’s infrastructure is not prepared for climate change. Roads are being washed away, and landslides are occurring. She said that we need to think about this more.
It covers 2.2 million acres in Wyoming and Idaho, as well as Montana. Montana was home to at least 87 people.
Red Lodge Fire Chief Tom Kuntz stated, “No one has ever seen anything like it.”
Kuntz estimates that approximately 250 Red Lodge homes were damaged by flooding.
“That boulder gives you an idea of the power and strength of this water. He said that the boulder originally stood in our main street. “The river actually came through this house and passed through it. Their living room was the river.
Kuntz stated that the weather in recent years has been unpredictable and extreme.
“A year ago, we were on fire. We are now wet. Kuntz stated that we have the highest stream flows this area has ever seen.”
