Gov. Otter declares disaster following landslide

BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter on Thursday issued a disaster declaration for Idaho County following a landslide.

About 14 tons of debris slid across a section of State Highway 14 about 10 miles west of Elk City on Feb. 18.

Idaho County commissioners on Tuesday signed a declaration of a county disaster seeking $1.5 in federal money to help pay for removing the slide.

Electrical service was interrupted for more than 650 account holders and because the slide covered the highway, nearly 250 residents in Elk City were unable to leave.

A U.S. Forest Service road is being used as a detour until the slide is removed.

The declaration by Otter is needed as part of the process to get Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief funding.