HEISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Rain and thunderstorms are creating dangerous conditions in southeastern Idaho, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an updated flash flood warning for Southeastern Jefferson County and South Central Madison County.
Jefferson and Madison County have closed roads around the Heise area due to heavy rain that fell over scar area of the recent Big Rock Fire that could result in mudslides.
“As typically happens after a fire, this area has become very susceptible to flash flooding,” said Jefferson County Emergency Manager Rebecca Squires.
The road is closed at the Heise bridge. South Snake River Road is also closed before Cress Creek heading into the Heise area.
“What we have going on is a very unstable and dangerous situation with debris flow crossing the road,” Squires said. “We’ve met the three conditions for having debris flow – that is heavy rain, a burn scar and steep slopes.”
With an inch of rain that came down in an hour at noon Thursday, it carried multiple flows of mud and debris across the road.
“The soil has become very hydrophobic, meaning that it sheds the water rather than absorbing it,” Squires explained. “The second thing that’s happening is the vegetation has been burned, and so there’s nothing holding the soil back. Therefore, when we have heavy rain, this area is very susceptible to mudslides. … We have rocks, mud, water, tree branches, and it’s just a very hazardous situation for motorists.”
The road to Heise Hot Springs and Kelly Canyon area will reopen soon once conditions stabilize.
“Once the rain subsides in the next couple days, then we’ll be able to get in,” Squires assured. “Our crews will get in, assess what’s wrong, fix the damage, remove the debris, and then we’ll open right back up.”
It could take 3 to 5 years before the island reestablishes itself enough to prevent mudslides in the future, she said.
The NWS urged residents and visitors to move immediately to higher ground and away from the burned scar area.
Officials ask residents and visitors to monitor weather alerts via NOAA weather radio or the FEMA app, and to get out of the danger area before it begins. “There is no time to protect life and property once debris flow has started,” states the post.
