Governor Gianforte Declares Wind Disaster In Montana

The Montana wind is no joke! As we previously discussed, Great Falls, Montana is one of the top five windiest places in America according to World Atlas.

And the wind has been so bad, Governor Gianforte stepped in and put his foot down.

Governor Gianforte Supports Montanans Affected By High Winds

In a post shared to Facebook yesterday, Governor Gianforte announced he signed an executive order declaring a wind disaster in Montana.

"Yesterday, most of the state experienced record-setting high winds that caused damage," Gianforte said in his post. "This makes sure our communities have the support they need to recover."

ALSO READ: Governor Gianforte Makes Huge Donation To Great Falls

The declaration will help the state utilize all available "necessary State government services, equipment, and suppliers" to "protect the health and safety and to preserve the lives, property, and resources of the people of the State of Montana" according to the declaration.

Montana Winds Are No Joke!

The record-setting winds included gusts over 90 MPH with sustained wind speeds reaching 65 MPH.

Social media and news outlets across Montana shared photos of trees toppled over, downed powerlines, and even 18-wheelers tipped over.

According to Montana.gov, authorities are already beginning work on "Leading the Montana Comeback":

Ravalli, Wheatland, Mineral and Flathead counties as well as the cities of Hamilton and Harlowton have enacted emergency declarations and city, county, state, and tribal personnel are working to remove debris.

Officials also say that the Montana Disaster & Emergency Services are expecting to receive more declarations of emergencies from local and tribal jurisdictions as storms continue in the state.