Posted: 12/5/2007 9:37:24 PM EDT
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No BS at all. 72 hrs can be a long time gentlemen. Take note, and take care of those you love. Just a couple of points, before before I head to bed. Say Thanks.... every time... and.. .. ... You're never as prepared as you think.. Never discount the generosity of your neighbors. Mother Nature isn't playing around. Houses, rigs, and landscaping aren't all that important, really. Canned food is a hell of an asset. Sigs WILL rust.... but who gives a shit? A whole lotta folks do have it much worse. The County .gov could come through for you when you least expect it. The local PUD might be the best outfit in the world to work for if you want to earn your pay. Friends do come thorugh... I'm fucking astounded you guys. The river did surprise me, no lies. But, my phone rang off the hook from people who wanted to be here to help us out, the whole time. I don't recall ever treating any of you well enough to warrant you guys being so willing to help us out.... Unreal! and thank you so much... I'm truly humbled... no shit. You have no idea of the depths of your offers and willingness from our perspectives.  I gotta cut this short, but before I ramble on like a nancy boy... We've never had it so good. We've kept our home, our rigs, our pets, our living, and our purpose. We haven't a gripe in the world down here. It rained, and it hurt some folks. We'd rather be helping, honest. A big shout out to our local PUD, who has to be the most honorable outfit I know of. And to the county who took care of business like we would have if we were running the show.... (that's my best compliment BTW) You boys really made it happen!  And to my friend Steve. He knows it, I know it..... end of story. I'll be in touch soon, and sorry about not reading all the posts and the rest of the threads. We just got power back a little while ago, and we're just happy to be able to post to you. Thank you, honest. |
Im just glad you, yours, and ours are all fine. I have been working floods since 1989, I have seen everything from people that never made it out, to 600+ animals dead... It never gets to be anything less than un-F-ing real. I have been listening to your areas DEM on the radio's, Coast Guard Helo's, Red Cross, and the State... You guys took a hell of a hit, and it seems that your people are actually doing a pretty good job with what they have.... Says a lot about your area, My area is pretty much the same way withe the locals pulling it in when needed (we are just used to the floods because we get hit hard as hell every couple of years) The best thing to have is not a bunch of guys that "get off" being on the local Rescue Team, but good friends local, that are willing to whip it out, and put it on the chopping block... anyway, Im glad everything is good for you, and yours. if you need anything just ask, Im sure we can get shit rolling.
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Yeah, San Diego Fire victims didn't get them either! Imagine that! +2 to everything else... The offer for help, cleaning up, repairing, whatever... Isn't just for this week or next, but the one after that or even next month. Whatever any guys need! |
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I"m glad you guys are well! I hope you are able to recover quickly. Don't be shy about calling a work party if there is need. You shouldn't be suprised. I've met you once and you gave of yourself unselfishly. I only got a very breif look at who you are and I'm not suprised that people would want to help you out in your time of need. |
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Very nice to hear from you and sounds like you are doing very well considering… in the last ten or so years past I had gone thru floods, fires, earth quakes, riots, etc… all in CA before we moved here… I have to say how happy I am to see folks from all over WA, I’m talking residents’ coming out of the wood work to work with other Washingtonians… Outstanding!!!! When I lost everything I owned in the Northridge, CA earth quake I found myself setting in the dark with not much to wear… finding myself going back in to the building that partially collapsed on us to help get others trapped in the building out, at one point I had a group of elderly folks I was helping down the collapsing stairwell around three story’s up…one of then turned to me an ask, are you from the police department? Nope, are you from the Fire Department, Nope…. Then who the hell are you, well I said I am your neighbor, I could not sit outside knowing you were trapped inside and do nothing… the old man I was helping out was shocked! Sad I though, thank goodness people in WA still care about each other! Let’s hope we never lose that!!!!! And yes, I have a full size pickup truck and not the best of back but if you or others need me I will be there…. the government shit will help but it comes slow, trust me I know! Big THANKS to you folks!!!!! I am sure glad we moved here, you people are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ramster |
Many thanks. Sorry we weren't able to report any sooner. (glad 1GR was able to relay it all play by play to everyone for us) Short update, (eyelids are heavy); Last night, after returning from town (for much needed showers and to get payroll out to our employees), we got Chelleshooters car freed. Had to jack the car up to get the logs out from under it, and then plenty of other debris and the water out of the inside. We also got my folks a room in town to crash at, and my aunt back in her home, safe and secure. Today, I got the shop mucked out and heated..... looks like keeping all the really expensive tools on the ground might have been a poor decision.  Chelleshooter got the fridge sparkling again, (thawed spinach makes everything green BTW), and we got ourselves a bunch of new stuff at the grocery store this afternoon. Plenty of TV dinners for now, to simplify cooking and dishwashing, without running water. Also got 1GRs rig returned to him this afternoon, and made my best to attempt to destroy his bathroom while there.  Things are about 3000% better than they were 24 hours ago, and far more than that compared to what many are enduring as I type this. We have nothing to bitch about at all. I did almost snap when we drove the whole fam damily in to get showers. Just as we got to town, we passed the freeway onramp that the National Guard guys were guarding. One of them had a big ol' Starbucks cup-o-coffee-chino in his hand.... nice dry warm clothes too, and we all had just finished brushing our teeth with our fingers.  Thanks again everyone
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Well I do remember Derrik and I talking about that river and if it ever climbed its banks, he said he was in a flood zone, and I'd swear that what happened over sunday evening was next to impossable but shit happens and reminds you to stay on your toes. Im glad to here you guys are doing allrght. I figured when I called steve and he didnt call back you guys had your hands full. But Im sure you know where to find help when you need it otherwise keep in touch an let us know how you all are doing |
Will do, and thanks. There were a lot of cameras, and most have handed me the data to email or post. Dunno who took 'em or if they've already been posted here. I've got many more that I haven't even seen yet. More to follow, if I find them interesting enough.             
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Glad to hear you weathered the weather well. Threads like these just goes to show that R-32 was right (for once) when he told me about Arfcom several years ago and what a great bunch of people most Arfcommers are. Glad I finally joined up, ODT I've only met you a couple times at LCR but you came off as a stand up guy and I liked you right away. So I'm not suprised at the good number of people willing to help you and your family. Disclaimer: not 'like you' in that sense. don't want nutgummer mad at me!
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Glad you did too.  I can't recall which thread it was in, but ol' R-32 was right about a lot of stuff on how these types of events unfold. Some of what I read from him was like he was here with us. (I'll bet he's the kind of fellow any of us would want on our side when in a pinch.) I've had a chance to let my father know about all your offers to be here, and he truly is in awe, just like I am. He has asked me to tell you all thank you for him, though I know he meant much more than those two words can convey. I do too.
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He's a small peckered asshole. |
Thank you. Chelleshooter handled all that emailing for me this morning, so there will be many I haven't seen yet too.
Many thanks. We will try to save a lot of that work for spring, so we don't do more damage than good. Budman (fellow arfcommer, who seldom posts, but many of you have met) dropped off his company's tractor with front bucket and dragbox early this morning. I'm headed out to tackle some mud removal now, so we'll be able to get gravel as soon as the county and state free up the trucking companies. (hoping for Tues delivery) You guys really should see how the community is pulling together down here. Friggen amazing!!! The county, state, churches, Red Cross, and every one who's able, is jumping in. Lots of smiling faces, lots of generous folks, lots of good deeds!  To be honest, it's actually a pretty positive thing in a lot of ways. |
