From Devastation to Determination: Weathering the Storm |
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Hello *{{Informal Name}}*,
The Wenatchee River Institute took a beating during the storm Wednesday night, driven by the atmospheric river that was sweeping through Western and Central Washington. Early in the day from the River Haus back deck, staff were entertained by watching logs float by as the Wenatchee River rose higher and higher. Around 3:30pm, the extreme winds announced themselves by blowing the front door into our plate glass window at the front of the River Haus. While cleaning up the glass, we heard the first Ponderosa Pine tree snap. Its treetop crashed into a couple of others, pushing a corpse of trees into the river. The wind shoved waterlogged trees around: many of the larger ponderosas snapped and sailed like pinecones. That night, 20-30 trees blew over on our campus, and the air was warm like a summer night.
The Outdoor Classroom and Red Barn took direct hits. We found them with trunks and trees leaning against them the next morning. The trails around campus were impassable, though the River Haus and E. Lorene Young House remained undamaged, aside from the broken window. Unfortunately, we had to cancel or postpone many programs, and we are still evaluating the next steps for many programs. We will announce any changes on social media and E-Newsletters, or via email if you registered or RSVP'd for an event.
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On Thursday morning, some staff arrived to a dark campus, while many were still not able to be reached due to no service or internet. We discovered that one staff member’s home, and another’s vehicle were destroyed. Together, we walked the property, took photos, assessed damages, and leaned on one another. We prepared our homes to live without power and internet, spoke to neighbors who wanted to help, and strategized our next steps for the organization.
On Friday, about 15 volunteers plus staff came to campus with saws and energy. We cleared one tree from a trail and started on the next. We contacted insurance adjustors and planned a work party for Sunday. |
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When I arrived on Sunday, dozens of people were already on campus, working with saws and organizing piles of branches. There were familiar faces and new ones, all focused on clearing debris. The energy of the group was overwhelming–so many people ready to contribute their time, tools, and expertise. After a few words of gratitude and safety reminders, we spread across our entire 13-acre campus to tackle the challenges nature left behind.
For several hours, over 70 volunteers of all ages plus staff worked to break down large trees into smaller pieces, piling them away from the trails and buildings. Hazard trees were felled and quickly processed into manageable piles. People collaborated thoughtfully and safely, planning each step with good humor under the sunny midday sky. We prioritized the areas of greatest need, and everyone worked until they tired.
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Now it is Monday–the rain is back, and we are holding our breath for the upcoming weather forecast for our region. Currently, we are meeting with contractors and engineers to determine how to protect damaged buildings and help them withstand the winter snow. There is still plenty of work ahead–chipping limb piles and cutting downed logs–but the trails are open, and hazardous trees have been grounded. We will keep moving forward, knowing we have an incredible community ready to help when we call!
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I am deeply grateful for the hundreds of hours of labor accomplished since the storm. I wish I could thank each person individually, but there are too many to name. Please know that you are so appreciated. I want to extend a special thanks to Colchuck Consignment for their time and supplies, Sustainable NCW for the numerous volunteers, Eastside Rebuild for lending their truck to haul debris, all the PUD workers who were working hard to restore power to our community, and for everyone who was involved in helping out. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this storm, but your show of support makes me hopeful. I truly felt the strength of our community as we worked together to achieve so much. Thank you!
With gratitude, |
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P.S. I hope you consider WRI for your end-of-year giving. We need your help now more than ever. It's also Funday Monday! Any donation of $10 or more through Give NCW puts your name in a hat to win $1,000 to donate to any participating nonprofit (including WRI!). If you have already donated, thank you. Thank you all so much again and stay safe!
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