Libby storm recovery meeting addresses water safety and bridge repair

LIBBY, Mont. — In December, a storm in Libby left the city heavily damaged, leading to millions of dollars in cleanup efforts. Earlier on Thursday, the city held a public meeting focusing on the ongoing recovery process.

The meeting took place at 6 p.m. at City Hall on East Spruce Street. Representatives from Lincoln County Disaster Services, Montana D-E-S and state and federal partners were present to address key questions from the community.

One major concern was the safety of the water supply. It was confirmed at the meeting that the water in Libby is now safe to drink.

Another significant issue discussed was the timeline for repairing the collapsed bridge. Officials explained that the repair process will be evaluated daily with two options being considered: repairing the bridge as it was or constructing something different. If the second option is chosen, a temporary bridge will be built to allow traffic flow without detours.