My wife's and mine report:
Monday we were stranded by local and major Chehalis River flooding, ALL routes to town were closed. By this AM we could cross to the east side of the freeway, and via a long U 4 miles south, and then 8 miles north we could see all of Chehalis (City) freeway ramps. 13th Street, Main Street, and Commerce of Chamber Way (Walmart, KMart, Home Depot etc are all flooded parking lots AND inside, 1-5 in those locations up to 10 feet under water, some 2 feet deeper than previous record flood.
The airport is under water. A freeway overpass at the south end of the airport is open to pedestrian traffic, and hordes of us crossed over, walked on the freeway north near to KMart - very fast flowing water on both sides of the about 1000 feet of freeway, still above water. Sunny, Beautiful, Helicopers everywhere. Saw a lot of friends. A Safeway on the east side of freeway was one of few places to eat, I hadn't eaten breakfast, also lots of visiting.
We stopped by our old church on the way to the route home, kitty corner, helicopter operations are based in the football field, and a friend says constant activity from flood time all night long. Much of this traffic passed over our house, we live on a ridge SW of town. We came a little more directly home, and saw a number of no longer flooded areas, as well as stopped trains. RR goes under water about the same time as the freeway. This is about the 15th hundred year flood since we moved here - and they tightened up the standards after the 96 flood. The helicopters and a National Guard vehicle are providing final ride to hospital, which did not have to close - what a disaster that would have been.
I spent most of yesterday, and some of today working with friends who were hit by the flood, his shop where he works was flooded and dirty, the yard was a mess. While I was rearranging gravel with their neighbors Kabota a member of our church showed up, and was handing out Safeway cards to everyone in the small town. Today I learned of more friends whose lives had been rearranged, some totally. The governor's guess is over a billion in damage, maybe much more. We feel very lucky here on the top of our ridge.
On a lighter note: actually it isn't lighter for my friend who owns our local gym, the new one on our side of the two bigger cities got flooded, and they don't know when the lower weight area will reopen. JP doesn't have to worry about this.
On a lighter note: actually it isn't lighter for my friend who owns our local gym, the new one on our side of the two bigger cities got flooded, and they don't know when the lower weight area will reopen. JP doesn't have to worry about this.
Sounds like you'll have plenty of real-world workout opportunities to allay your absence from that gym.
__________________ No Magic Pill (the log)
My Movember page (yes, I'm slacking on pictures)
We are about a week later and reality begins sinking in. We have 50 houses red tagged, not safe to enter, 450 yellow tagged, not safe to spend much time in. They were saying the '96 flood was a 500 year event, this one was from 8 feet (up river) to 2 feet higher than anything since we were settled in 1800s, obviously at this point we have no idea how bad the next flood will be. And most people assume they will live long enough to see it. We will know in the next few months how much damage there was. Recovery much longer. My favorite grocery store (where all the Mexicans shop) just paid off their FEMA(?) loan from the 96 flood. I hauled garbage yesterday and today for a friend. Today's load was the grungy one.
Rob, if there is a charity or specific organization there that you feel is doing some good please post the name and I'll gladly donate to it. Red Cross? Salvation Army? Some local church or group? Let me know. Or, pm me and I'll send you something to help you to help your neighbors. Whatever you want, say the word. Even if it's just to help you with gas money to haul stuff to the dump.
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Mark - here is an address. United Way has decided to forward all donations to victims of the flood. They know they will have to recoup their heavy admin costs later as they are a lean organization. And the other good news is that an unknown large corporation is matching all donations. I consider whatever costs I incur helping as part of my donation. We are so lucky not being in the flood plane.
United Way Headquarters
450 NW Pacific Ave
Chehalis WA 98532
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Yet another 100 year flood
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