“The governor left for Italy early Saturday morning with his wife for a long-planned personal, private trip,” his office said in a statement Friday after Gianford returned. “When the floods hit, the governor handed over the power to respond to the disaster to Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, who has worked closely with him over the past four days to take swift, decisive action.”
The governor’s office said Gianforte was “grateful to be back in Montana” and that he planned to “assess the damage and rescue residents and local authorities and rebuild it”. Jeanford Appeared at a conference Friday in Gardiner.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Saturday.
Extreme levels of flood danger were announced in at least two places. The Montana National Guard is stationed throughout the Yellowstone area, where the Red Cross operates. Exhaust centers Across the area.
Flood – A combination of rain and snow in the southwest corner of the state – particularly affected Yellowstone National Park, about 10,000 visitors were evacuated and at least 88 were evacuated by air from camps and surrounding cities by the Montana National Guard. No casualties or serious injuries were reported near the 2.2 million-acre popular tourist attraction.
The onset of unpredictable water caused a dramatic river surge, shattering centuries-old records. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed this week that the Yellowstone River was flooded 1 in 500 year event. The Yellowstone River, in Mont. The previous high mark mentioned in 1918.
Jeanford Announced The statewide disaster on Tuesday in an effort to “help affected communities get back on their feet quickly”. Then, on Wednesday, some in Montana began to wonder why Lieutenant Governor Juras had signed the state’s formal request to President Biden for major disaster relief.On behalf of Governor Greg Gianforte. “
It was then that the governor’s office began to receive repeated questions about Gianford’s whereabouts. Such as outlets Montana Free Press “Where is Greg Jeanford?” That published stories with headlines. Montana Democrats ding for leaving Republican for “mysterious international holiday during emergency flood”. Critics were not impressed when the governor’s office initially said Gianforte was out of the country and would “return as soon as possible”.
“It simply came to our notice then [the flooding] He is very serious and his office is very hesitant about where he is and what is happening, ”Eric Austin, a professor of public administration at Montana State University, who teaches a class on government leadership and ethics, told the Free Press.
The absence of Gianford was the sen that left him. Provoked critics to compare it with Ted Cruz (R-Tex). Country To Cancun, Mexico, when Texas was affected 2021 Deadly Winter Freeze. Unlike Cruz, Gianford left before the emergency could begin.
Although he was not seen from the scene, Gianford portrayed himself on Twitter as responding aggressively to the flood. Jeanford Announced On Thursday he said he had “defended” a major disaster announcement from Pittsburgh, adding that he would provide federal assistance “to help our communities respond, recover and rebuild severe flooding.” However, the news release did not mention his whereabouts or date of return.
On Friday, Gianforte returned from Italy to find the Yellowstone River in Gardiner. He made his first public appearance with officials including Steve Dines (R-Mont.). The governor agreed that it would take time to clean up and renovate, but said efforts were already underway to repair the damaged infrastructure.
“I understand the tragedy. It has destroyed businesses and with them there is a livelihood in the community, ”said Jeanford. Bosman Daily Chronicle. “That is why [to] Open as soon as possible with this park entrance, which is very important.
Yellow stone Has tweeted that On Friday, the reopening of the park was “most likely next week”.
“Yellowstone continues its efforts to recover from the historic flood,” the park wrote, posting photos of some of the damage in the park’s southern ring.
துUpdate (6/17 9:45 am)
Yellowstone continues efforts to recover from the historic flood; A limited reopening next week is possible in the park’s southern ring with visitor entry changes. See flood relief efforts, park activities information and frequently asked questions: https://t.co/zzoA8Id2mG pic.twitter.com/uFCGXGLpZL– Yellowstone National Park (ellowYellowstoneNPS) June 17, 2022
Gianforde stressed that Yellowstone would soon open and show Americans again “everything Montana has to offer”.
“I want you to hear it loud and clear,” the governor said. “Montana is open to business.”
Karin Brulliard, N. Kirkpatrick, Jason Samenow, Dylan Moriarty and Laris Karklis contributed to this report.
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