I spent yesterday helping Pete and Cindy.  The damage is overwhelming.  Their farm is on the river.  They flood occasionally but the house and barn are high enough that the water doesn't get inside.  The nightmare of that day began while Pete was milking in the morning.  They were preparing for the usual amount of overflow.  A levy somewhere up river broke.  Pete left the milk parlor to check a cow giving birth and when he returned 10 minutes later, the milking machines were in water.  He ran, turning cows and calves out of stalls and stanchions and tried to chase them to a high corner of the property but they were paniced and kept turning back. The water was rising so fast that it was spilling over the hip wader boots he milks in by the time he got to the barn yard.  He ran toward the house but the water's current was carrying him toward the river.  He was able to pull himself up onto a field tractor (parked in the lane near the house) and drive it the rest of the way.  Cindy threw a rope from the back porch and pulled him to safety.  The water was already pouring into the house so they went to the second floor.  They were rescued by boat from the roof of a second story dormer several hours later...after watching their entire herd lose their struggle for life.

The water reached ceiling height on the first floor of the house (total depth of about 12 feet from ground level) and everything...everything is a total loss.  The silt mud left inside the house was a couple feet deep.  It covers and clings to everything.  40 of Pete's precious Maplewater herd (bloodlines started by his Grandfather) have been buried on the farm.  The rest of their bodies (125 total) are being reported (ID.ed by ear tags) and disposed of miles down river.  All of the milking equipment, field equipment, tractors, trucks and cars have been completely submerged, largely ruined.

Pete and Cindy are still in shock but hanging on. Their daughters families are holding them up.  A neighbor has given them the use of a mobile home until they can rebuild.  Neighbors, their church, 4-H families (Pete was just inducted into the state 4-H leaders Hall of Fame in November...for his dedicated work with youth), and other dairy families are there with shovels, tractors, etc.  There is just so much... Pete remarked to a fellow yesterday that it is harder to be the one in need than the one to fill it.  He has always been the provider.  He feels very helpless right now.

The farm address is
774 Curtis Hill Road, Chehalis

I have directions if anyone wants to go down.  Work parties are going on constantly.  There is no post office, power, phone (not even cellphones are getting through), or running water.  Be sure to have high boots and gloves.  They are recommending rubber pants tucked into boots and rubber gloves.  We took some food but a dairy group had a gas hot plate with soup and coffee for all.  They are burning everything that can be disposed of that way and hauling the rest to dump sites.  Shovels and garbage bags are also helpful. We also took towels, etc. to clean ourselves up before getting into our vehicles.  Be prepared for deep mud.

There are a couple organizations with funds set up for them.  Probably the best is the Washington Dairy Federation at PO Box 1768 Elma, Wa. 98541.  Money is always needed but any help or supplies are as well.  Please keep them in your prayers.

My family will be back there next weekend so if anyone wants to send messages or donations I'll do my best to get them there.  One of the local churches is distributing clothing, food, towels, and cleaning supplies to the community.  The water was 8 to 12 feet deep over the entire valley.  Nearly every home is devastated.  It is a miracle that more lives were not lost.  What you see on TV doesn't begin to describe the scene.