You are not getting this on the news folks, but between the rain and the snow and cold that has hit us this month, this state is in bad shape outside of the cities.
My business partner has been without water, power, cable, phone for the last six days. In Stanwood, along the rural roads, it looks like the military came in and bombed the place. None of the powerlines made it. Six days later, and there are conductors littered everywhere.
Property owners are picking them up and moving them because they don't have a choice at this point. Along some of these routes, it looks like black snakes on the road.
A guy I graduated with who lives in Poulsbo was driving home the same night (Nov 25th) out of Neah Bay. His 4WD hit a patch of black ice on a turn and put the car down a steep embankment, putting the car into a wide, swollen creek. He and his family were able to get the windows down before the power was lost and spent some quality time on the roof of the car. He managed to jump into the creek, grabbed a fallen tree, pull himself up to the other bank, flag down a car, and then get EMS to rope traverse the family off the car.
Mt Rainier State Park is virtually destroyed. There are new creeks where they didn't exist before, entire sections of river bank have been established, bridges wiped out, etc.
These guys at the papers and stations need to get in a car and go for a spin.
I have a powerpoint of the Mt. Rainer damage, and its breathtaking. You can hit me privately if you want a copy.
As I hear it, 410 (White River) is still okay, but that's just what I hear, not what I can verify.
Prayers for the Kim family.
"He and his family were able to get the windows down before the power was lost...."
When I read that it struck me that everyone should have some form of small hammer and seatbelt cutter available. They are sold many places, we bought ours through Smoky Mountain Knife Works, but I have seen them other places.
Thanks for the news from your area.