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National Guard Evacuates Bible Camp Near Augusta Cut Off By Floods

Nearly 140 teens and adults are evacuated via helicopter from a bible camp near Augusta, MT, June 21, 2018.
Montana National Guard
Nearly 140 teens and adults are evacuated via helicopter from a bible camp near Augusta, MT, June 21, 2018.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — The Latest on Montana flooding (all times local): 2 p.m.

The Montana Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force are evacuating nearly 140 people from a Bible camp southwest of Augusta after the road was washed out due to flooding.

Two Chinook helicopters were being used Thursday to ferry 100 teens and 37 adults from the Montana Wilderness School of the Bible to Great Falls.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Capt. Brent Colbert says they had shelter and supplies, but officials decided for safety reasons to get them out of the area. They were supposed to be at camp until Friday.

Flooding on the Dearborn River earlier this week made the road to the Bible camp impassable.

10:55 a.m.

Creeks and small rivers are funneling water from last weekend's heavy rains along the Rocky Mountain Front downstream toward the Missouri River. Water was above flood stage and still rising Thursday morning where the Smith River runs into the Missouri River about 10 miles southwest of Great Falls. However, the National Weather Service revised the expected crest down by several feet, meaning much less impact than initially expected.

The Sun River runs into the Missouri at Great Falls, where minor flooding was reported Thursday. Some low-lying roads were closed. Earlier this week the runoff from a storm that dropped up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain in the mountains flooded small towns and washed out bridges, culverts and forest roads. Thunderstorms that could bring heavy rain are forecast through the weekend.

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