Home Lost To Floodwaters, Regulations Montana Officials Might Not Let Woman Rebuild On Flood Plain

The state may not allow a Livingston woman, whose house nearly was swept away by the flooding Yellowstone River this summer, to rebuild on her property.

State regulations prohibit replacement of any structure within a flood plain if it has suffered 50 percent or more damage, the area’s flood-plain administrators wrote in a letter to Amy Simpson.

“It’s unbelievable,” Simpson said. “It’s just one more kick. I think it’s disgusting.”

Administrators Ellen Woodbury and Randy Taylor worked with state officials and attorneys to draw up five conditions under which they would allow Simpson to place a manufactured home on what remains of her riverfront property.

The restrictions include having the structure elevated at least two feet above flood level. If Simpson moves off the property, she or her heirs must remove the house and agree the property never would be occupied again. Simpson also would be required to participate if a federal buyout should occur on Ninth Street Island.

“Not only have I lost my house, but I’ve lost my property as well,” said Simpson, who has lived on the island for 20 years. “I’ve lost everything. It is very, very hard to take, let me tell you.”

Simpson had about 1.4 acres of land facing the east channel of the Yellowstone River before the flooding began early this summer. The river ate away about a third of her property, devouring trees, flowers and lawn. Finally, the front of her home crumbled into the water on June 19.