HAMILTON - On the recommendation of their emergency management director, the Ravalli County commissioners adopted an emergency flood declaration Tuesday morning.

"It puts us in a position to access resources more quickly," said Ron Nicholas, director of the county's Office of Emergency Management.

While the Bitterroot River has not yet reached flood stage, Nicholas told commissioners, "We're not out of trouble."

By declaring an emergency, he said, resources from the state and possibly federal level will be available - if needed.

The emergency declaration also gives the commissioners authority to issue a two-mill levy, which is approximately $160,000, should the county run out of resources and need to purchase addition equipment or pay for employees' overtime, Nicholas said.

During the brief morning meeting, Commissioner Matt Kanenwisher said his only worry was that it seems too soon to declare an emergency.

"My only concern is that it's kind of a ‘crying wolf' thing," he said.

But Nicholas said it's just the opposite. Nicholas said it shows the commissioners see a potential flooding threat and that they're on top of it.