TOM MORTON Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Sunday, July 5, 2009 12:00 am
At least $4 million in damages from the intense storm Friday prompted a local disaster declaration by Natrona County Commission Chairman Rob Hendry, he said Saturday.
Hendry and Casper Mayor Kenyne Schlager on Saturday signed two letters addressed to Gov. Dave Freudenthal requesting assistance from the governor's emergency fund and other sources to repair the effects of the high winds and 2.25 inches of rain that fell in downtown Casper.
"Critical infrastructure damage for the Natrona County Government is approximately $2 million, which includes the Hall of Justice, Natrona County Sheriff's Office, Wyoming Medical Center, Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, and damage sustained to county roads," Hendry and Schlager wrote on letterhead stationery from the Natrona County Emergency Management office.
"Initial reports of damage to infrastructure in the City of Casper are approximately $2 million, which includes the Hall of Justice, Casper Police Department, the Nicolaysen Art Museum, and city parks and streets," they wrote.
Besides the city and county infrastructure damage, a hot line - 235-9555 - established by the county's emergency management agency received more than 125 calls from individuals by Saturday afternoon reporting flood damage to their businesses and residences, said Bob Fawcett, fire prevention officer for the Casper Fire-EMS Department.
While the property damage estimates of the city and county continue to mount, Police Sgt. Shane Chaney said no one was injured or killed during or after the intense rain.
Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com. Read his blog at tribtown.trib.com/TomMorton/blog.
In pictures
See the pictures of the flash flooding from various points around Casper on Friday evening at the WyoWeather TribTown group located here: http://tribtown.trib.com/post/Groups/WyoWeather/blog/flash_flooding_in_casper.html. Now updated to include Star-Tribune photographer Kerry Huller's photos.