
A house is seen falling into the Yellowstone River amid historic flooding on June 13, 2022. (Image: screenshot/Twitter/@mtnmichelle)
House Swept Into Yellowstone River as Record Flooding Offers Yet Another Glimpse of Climate Crisis
"A hot world means more rain," said one climate campaigner.
Footage circulating on social media Tuesday showed a home in Gardiner, Montana crashing into the flooded Yellowstone River after rushing water undermined the foundation and broke the house's stilts, offering what climate campaigners warn is a picture of the kind of catastrophe likely to become more common as the climate crisis worsens.
"A hot world means more rain," said author and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben in response to the video.
The building--reportedly a multi-family house where five local families and individuals lived--was swept into the rushing river after heavy rains and the region's fast-melting snowpack triggered historic flooding.
While an unknown number of tourists visiting Yellowstone National Park were evacuated, journalist Kathleen McLaughlin tweeted, "the impact of catastrophic flooding in the Yellowstone region will fall hardest on working-class people" who live there year-round.
Power outages were reported on Monday across Yellowstone National Park, which covers 2.2 million acres in parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, while officials evacuated visitors and closed entrances to the park indefinitely, according to NBC News.
"This is flooding that we've just never seen in our lifetimes before."
"We will not know timing of the park's reopening until flood waters subside and we're able to assess the damage throughout the park," park superintendent Cam Sholly told CBS News.
Road access to Gardiner, home to about 900 residents, was cut off due to the flooding as mudslides and rockslides were reported in the area.
"This is flooding that we've just never seen in our lifetimes before," Cory Mottice, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service based in Billings, Montana, told NBC.
The river crested at 13.88 feet on Monday. The previous record, 11.5 feet, was set in 1918.
NBC reported that "numerous homes and other structures were destroyed" in addition to the home that collapsed into the river, but said there have been no reports of injuries thus far.
Ani Dasgupta, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, said the dramatic footage of the house should push policymakers to "speed up climate action this decade, this year, this month, this week, today, right now."
"Nowhere on Earth is immune to climate change," said Dasgupta.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Footage circulating on social media Tuesday showed a home in Gardiner, Montana crashing into the flooded Yellowstone River after rushing water undermined the foundation and broke the house's stilts, offering what climate campaigners warn is a picture of the kind of catastrophe likely to become more common as the climate crisis worsens.
"A hot world means more rain," said author and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben in response to the video.
The building--reportedly a multi-family house where five local families and individuals lived--was swept into the rushing river after heavy rains and the region's fast-melting snowpack triggered historic flooding.
While an unknown number of tourists visiting Yellowstone National Park were evacuated, journalist Kathleen McLaughlin tweeted, "the impact of catastrophic flooding in the Yellowstone region will fall hardest on working-class people" who live there year-round.
Power outages were reported on Monday across Yellowstone National Park, which covers 2.2 million acres in parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, while officials evacuated visitors and closed entrances to the park indefinitely, according to NBC News.
"This is flooding that we've just never seen in our lifetimes before."
"We will not know timing of the park's reopening until flood waters subside and we're able to assess the damage throughout the park," park superintendent Cam Sholly told CBS News.
Road access to Gardiner, home to about 900 residents, was cut off due to the flooding as mudslides and rockslides were reported in the area.
"This is flooding that we've just never seen in our lifetimes before," Cory Mottice, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service based in Billings, Montana, told NBC.
The river crested at 13.88 feet on Monday. The previous record, 11.5 feet, was set in 1918.
NBC reported that "numerous homes and other structures were destroyed" in addition to the home that collapsed into the river, but said there have been no reports of injuries thus far.
Ani Dasgupta, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, said the dramatic footage of the house should push policymakers to "speed up climate action this decade, this year, this month, this week, today, right now."
"Nowhere on Earth is immune to climate change," said Dasgupta.
Footage circulating on social media Tuesday showed a home in Gardiner, Montana crashing into the flooded Yellowstone River after rushing water undermined the foundation and broke the house's stilts, offering what climate campaigners warn is a picture of the kind of catastrophe likely to become more common as the climate crisis worsens.
"A hot world means more rain," said author and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben in response to the video.
The building--reportedly a multi-family house where five local families and individuals lived--was swept into the rushing river after heavy rains and the region's fast-melting snowpack triggered historic flooding.
While an unknown number of tourists visiting Yellowstone National Park were evacuated, journalist Kathleen McLaughlin tweeted, "the impact of catastrophic flooding in the Yellowstone region will fall hardest on working-class people" who live there year-round.
Power outages were reported on Monday across Yellowstone National Park, which covers 2.2 million acres in parts of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, while officials evacuated visitors and closed entrances to the park indefinitely, according to NBC News.
"This is flooding that we've just never seen in our lifetimes before."
"We will not know timing of the park's reopening until flood waters subside and we're able to assess the damage throughout the park," park superintendent Cam Sholly told CBS News.
Road access to Gardiner, home to about 900 residents, was cut off due to the flooding as mudslides and rockslides were reported in the area.
"This is flooding that we've just never seen in our lifetimes before," Cory Mottice, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service based in Billings, Montana, told NBC.
The river crested at 13.88 feet on Monday. The previous record, 11.5 feet, was set in 1918.
NBC reported that "numerous homes and other structures were destroyed" in addition to the home that collapsed into the river, but said there have been no reports of injuries thus far.
Ani Dasgupta, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, said the dramatic footage of the house should push policymakers to "speed up climate action this decade, this year, this month, this week, today, right now."
"Nowhere on Earth is immune to climate change," said Dasgupta.

