Posted: 12/24/2007 8:34:12 PM EDT
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Good stuff going on down this way... (small sample.... figure +/- 3% of the good I've witnessed) I watched the news tonight for the first time since before the Dec 3 flood, and I see we don't make the news-radar up there anymore. No surprise... I'm sure many of you living outside King County understand that just fine.  So I've heard; ... A fellow a few miles down river from me who just moved here from Puyallup last year, was asked by a friend of mine if he was gonna move and let the bank take back his home, after being all but wiped out, literally. "Hell no! After seeing the support from this community, I'll never leave.". A sheep farmer and friend of our closest neighbor, had 90% of his sheep drown, right in the barn he moved them to during the flood. It was the highest point in the property, and he did the best he could do for them. (so sorry to hear... I know it wasn't just a business to him) The same neighbor, spent 4 hours in the pouring rain clearing the road to our water supply for us with his tractor yesterday, so we could do repairs on Wed, and still stopped by our house for the first time ever afterwards, to see if we needed anything, at all. (meanwhile, he has many buildings flooded, and in desperate need of repair) The Public Utility District, and Lewis County Public Works, hasn't taken a single day off since the flood AFAIK. (Large LCR County rigs repaired much of our land access today) People appear in droves, asking to help, and not taking no for an answer. It's tough to run them off.... but we send them downriver, where the real trouble is. A fella appeared at a nearby dairy to help. When asked if he knew anyone there, he said, "No, but I didn't have any money to send down..... but I had gas in my car." Some people that I know (similar to us) have made it policy to send volunteers elsewhere, saying, "I grew up here, and have plenty of friends around to help me. Please go further, and find someone who needs it.". Really, and honestly... and not to brag or gloat.... but, I've never felt so fortunate, nor felt so at home. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and I hope your ice is as cold as mine is. 
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I saw on the news that a woman (I think they said she drove down from King County) gave the girl that had that refrigerator unit on her car, a car. It was about that Christmas party in Pe Ell. I don't know what kind of car she gave her but they showed GM keys. Just remember when you are brushing off help that they know you don't *need* them to help but *they* need to help. 
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Sorry man... Its been a long drink... 
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Many many thanks! 
I heard that story too, but couldn't remember the details enough to recite it. (didn't know it was the 'fridge-car' though) Very solid point JAFO. Right on. 
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Chelleshooter sent these to me. 1GR, Stokes, and I know many of these people. Many are nearby neighbors of mine. www.chronline.com/multimedia/notsodryad.php www.chronline.com/multimedia/slideshighwater.php |
Thanks OdT. Somehow, pictures and video don't do it justice though. You've got a good community there. |
Saw many familiar faces and places there. Boistfort / Curtis got hit pretty hard. |
Agreed I forgot to mention earlier, that Chip Elliot, the guy talking and pictured in the video, is also a fellow silhouette shooter, and all around very good man. He's helped my family out more than once. The man in the second photo in the slideshow shows the owner of the Curtis General Store, (man getting burger). He (or some of his family) were rescued from the roof of the store by 1GRs nephew and his boat. The depth finder said 14' down to pavement during the rescue. (1GR & I also went to high school with his son.) The pic with the refer conex box on top of the car (seen in other threads) was taken about 20 yards south of the store. |
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update, fyi Last night, my parents moved back in to their home. They were eager to return, even without furniture. We loaned them an air mattress, and my father and I broke-in the new icemaker when the last of the crews left. The TV people, the carpet people, and the appliance people all completed their jobs yesterday. We're pretty astounded at the fact that it too 42 days (since the flood) to get this far.  But we were on it steady, and never took even a single day off. (we even worked half the day on Christmas).But the fact is, a flood is really much more work than meets the eye. We figure if we had hired it all out, it would have taken about the same amount of time, and would have cost roughly 3 times as much. (and, it hasn't been cheap at all) The carpet store said we were the second flood house they have done so far, but they have several dozen on the books, waiting until they are ready for flooring. So, we must not have been too far behind schedule. When I picked up a new water heater on Monday at Fergusons (plumbing contractor supply) they told me they have sold approximately 170 water heaters to flood victims so far. That's a shitload for just 1 store. There's still a few months of yard/fence/road work to do, but that will be at our leisure. Right now, were feeling pretty good about all of us being home again.
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Good to hear!
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