Severe flooding ripped through Lincoln County, Montana, and left sections of the Farm to Market bridge near Libby collapsed not once but twice, according to local reports and dramatic video circulating from the scene. Hardworking Montanans woke to roads washed away and communities cut off as swollen creeks became angry rivers overnight.
County officials moved quickly to respond, with the Lincoln County commissioners declaring a state of emergency and activating an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate relief and recovery. When rural towns face disasters like this, decisive local leadership matters more than Washington posturing.
The damage wasn’t limited to a single span — multiple bridges and roadways were reported washed out or compromised, forcing widespread closures and hazardous travel conditions across the region. The city of Libby was placed under a boil-water advisory as floodwaters threatened municipal systems, a stark reminder that infrastructure failures ripple into public health risks.
The National Weather Service confirmed severe flooding and noted the bridge over Libby Creek on Farm to Market Road had failed, while raw footage shared by locals shows sections giving way under the force of the water. This kind of footage is a wake-up call: nature does not negotiate, and our roads and bridges paid for with taxpayer dollars must be built and maintained to meet real risks.
Governor Greg Gianforte said he was monitoring the situation and that Montana Disaster and Emergency Services was deploying resources to assist Lincoln County, which is the right move from a conservative governor who understands state responsibility. In crises like this, state leadership and volunteerism matter far more than empty federal promises and bureaucratic delays.
Make no mistake: this disaster exposes the consequences of deferred maintenance and misplaced priorities. Instead of funding pet projects and Washington power plays, we should be investing in resilient, commonsense infrastructure that protects rural Americans, supports our first responders, and keeps supply lines open when storms hit.
Neighbors are already stepping up with sandbags, shelters are open for displaced residents, and emergency crews are working around the clock — the kind of grassroots grit that defines this country. Folks who love freedom and community know what to do: support local volunteers, demand accountability for infrastructure, and insist our leaders prioritize real public safety over partisan theater.
