Northwest Disaster

[Dark Shadows]

Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Western Washington and Oregon. My house near Olympia was completely demolished by the high winds and flood that followed. I am trying to work with FEMA, but they only have loans to offer, no other kind of assistance. It's a total loss. And this area of the country is still reeling from the loss of jobs in the timber industry due to the spotted owl. Many families had hit rock bottom before the storm. There are three Native reservations in the flood path, most of the dwellings in rough shape to begin with. Their only source of income is fishing, fireworks and a couple of small casinos (nothing like the big ones in California).

[Dark Shadows]

Maybe, if anyone has any ideas we could put together a fund raiser for these people - all the people up there, not just those on the reservations. I'd be willing to transport stuff up there (I have a big van) if anyone would like to donate blankets, coats, sleeping bags, electric heaters, even non-perishable food and cleaning supplies to help mop up the mud and dirt that has accumulated wherever there is a ground floor structure. I called my friend's house 2 nights ago and they were all huddled in his mother's 2nd floor one bedroom apartment in Centralia. There are 3 sisters and a brother and they all live in the flood area. One of the sisters had three feet of water in her ground floor apartment. Her boyfriend lives in a Winebago in Aberdeen and she has not heard from his since the storm. The Squaxin/Salish/Nisqually Indian reservations are all along the river base, a very flooded area.

Please let me know if anyone can help. Thank you.

[shellebelle]

I have a friend in Sheldon and I hope he's fine.

I'll see what I have to donate.

If you replace your earthquake kit at the first of the year please consider sending last years with Dark Shadow. Though its a year old as long as its not expired it would be helpful I'm sure.

Maybe, if anyone has any ideas we could put together a fund raiser for these people - all the people up there, not just those on the reservations. I'd be willing to transport stuff up there (I have a big van) if anyone would like to donate blankets, coats, sleeping bags, electric heaters, even non-perishable food and cleaning supplies to help mop up the mud and dirt that has accumulated wherever there is a ground floor structure. I called my friend's house 2 nights ago and they were all huddled in his mother's 2nd floor one bedroom apartment in Centralia. There are 3 sisters and a brother and they all live in the flood area. One of the sisters had three feet of water in her ground floor apartment. Her boyfriend lives in a Winebago in Aberdeen and she has not heard from his since the storm. The Squaxin/Salish/Nisqually Indian reservations are all along the river base, a very flooded area.

Please let me know if anyone can help. Thank you.

[shellebelle]

Another thought if anyone other than myself watches that other place's (Craigslist) FREE stuff ads see if you can grab anything for the WA and OR disaster victims. Blankets, etc. Also think about placing ads for things on the list.

I have a friend in Sheldon and I hope he's fine.

I'll see what I have to donate.

If you replace your earthquake kit at the first of the year please consider sending last years with Dark Shadow. Though its a year old as long as its not expired it would be helpful I'm sure.

[eoanna]

I have coats and some clothes. how can I get in touch? Mari

Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Western Washington and Oregon. My house near Olympia was completely demolished by the high winds and flood that followed. I am trying to work with FEMA, but they only have loans to offer, no other kind of assistance. It's a total loss. And this area of the country is still reeling from the loss of jobs in the timber industry due to the spotted owl. Many families had hit rock bottom before the storm. There are three Native reservations in the flood path, most of the dwellings in rough shape to begin with. Their only source of income is fishing, fireworks and a couple of small casinos (nothing like the big ones in California).

[Dark Shadows]

Anyone who has items to donate can contact me at [email protected]

Remember- we really need cleaning supplies, blankets and non-perishable food (peanut butter, canned chili, crackers, canned milk, baby formula/food, diapers). Thanks!

I have coats and some clothes. how can I get in touch? Mari

[Dark Shadows]

I woke early this morning and delivered all your flood relief donations to the Squaxin Island Tribal Museum where curator, Charlene received them with gratitude. Many people of the Chehalis and Skokomish tribes were affected by the storms and called the tribal center for help with housing. The SI tribe opened has its heart and hotel (Little Creek Casino) to their brothers in Western Washington.

I spent a few hours emptying my own house of treasured items, mostly photographs and my children's artwork. Then I took a drive down to Centralia to meet an old friend. We were going to try out a horse that my friend has been thinking about buying from someone on the reservation, I thought it would life my spirits. What we saw when we got there made my heart sink. Many washed out, poor neighborhoods, flooded pastures and animals standing in water. Children wearing flip flops in 40 degree weather with running noses and no coats.

We weren't able to ride the paint gelding that was for sale, but we took him without question when we saw the state he was in. I'm sure he's got some kind of respiratory infection. I was sorry that we couldn't take any more of the once fine horses that were there. I heard that some ranchers lost many animals to the high water, and that FEMA was spent big bucks to get rid of the carcasses. I have a feeling that there's going to be more carcasses before long. I really couldn't take much more and I asked if Steve if he could take me back to the hotel where I could get warm. So I'm back here and wondering if I shouldn't try to continue the relief effort.

I know its Christmas and you are all busy, but if it moves you to help, I will be driving back through Chehalis on my way home. I am staying at the Little Creek Casino, 91 West State Route 108, Shelton, WA 98584, Room 251. Please send me a message and maybe we can find a way to get more aid to these people.

Thank you and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Kathy