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| National Guard and Fire District 2 personnel plan rescue for stranded Tahuya residents |
Beginning Sunday December 2nd North Mason received nearly 14 inches of rainfall within a 48 hour period. This historic drop of precipitation in the area resulted in a devastating flooding of several neighborhoods and communities. The hardest hit included the Tahuya Peninsula, Union River Valley, and several areas of the South Shore. Here is a brief and initial recap of the North Mason events over the past three days.
Monday
At 7:00am Monday Mason County Fire District 2 began to receive numerous calls for assistance with flooded basements and requests for sandbags. With fire district resources quickly becoming exhausted Mason County Fire District 2, by 8am, had established an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) at Station 21 and began to request outside resources through the Mason County Department of Emergency Management.
By 9 am Monday, emergency calls were overwhelming the 911 system. Within a 2 hour period the fire district received over 150 calls for emergency assistance. Emergency calls included assistance with severe flooding, requests for emergency medical help, rescue of several citizens trapped in the rising flood waters, and a fire at the Twanoh State Park.
The Fire District took and noted all calls and quickly began to prioritize its response. While the district was initially delayed in responding to non life threatening calls for assistance it was able to provide an immediate response to all emergency medical, fire and water rescue calls.
The most dramatic calls for help during the initial response period were three separate calls for swift water rescue from the rising waters of the Union River at the Highway 300 bridge. Three different motorists attempted to ford the swelling river when their vehicles became stranded in the rising waters. Passengers were forced to the roofs of their cars as the cars themselves began to float away. Rescuers from both the Fire District and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office were able to enter the waters with rescue equipment and pull all passengers to safety. One passenger was taken to the hospital by Fire District medic crews with severe hypothermia following a prolonged submersion in the icy waters.
During the initial response nearly every major roadway in North Mason experienced a closure. Highway 106 and the Northshore, Dewatto-Holly, Tahuya-Blacksmith and the Bear Creek-Cewatto Roads were close in numerous places due to mudslides, water over the roadway, and down power lines. Highway 300 was closed at the Union River Bridge as water levels were at one point was 8 feet above the bridge way. The Belfair-Tahuya Road closed as the center section of the Tahuya River bridge washed away. The loss of two bridges on the Mission Creek Rd forced its closure.
Due to the Monday road closures Mason County Fire District 2 found that nearly 2000 residents on the Tahuya Peninsula were stranded and cut off from emergency and essential services. Several fire and police crews traveled every possible point of entry by vehicle into the Peninsula, including DNR roads and trails, but were initially turned back due to impassible road conditions.
While ground crews searched for a point of entry into the Peninsula by road the fire district was researching an alternative plan for getting residents emergency help. The fire district requested and received a Coast Guard helicopter and attempted to fly fire and medical crews into Station 27 at Collins Lake. Due to winds that exceeded 50 miles per hour the helicopter was unable to land at the station or anywhere else on the Peninsula. The district did have Community Response Team member that responded to the Collins Lake Fire Station and establish a disaster shelter by noon Monday.
It wouldn’t be until 5pm Monday evening that a fire crew, with a 4 wheel drive vehicle, was able to traverse logging roads on the Hurd Road and make entry into the Peninsula. They quickly responded to the Tahuya River Valley to assist with flooding victims. A second fire crew would make entry shortly thereafter and base their overnight response from the Collins Lake Fire station. Several local citizens would end up taking refuge with fire crews at the station. It was at this time that a woman in labor that had lost a connection on a cell phone went to Collins Lake Fire Station. After being evaluated by medical crews and refusing strong medical advice, the woman refused transport to the hospital and made out on her own with her husband to the hospital.
In addition to establishing a disaster shelter at Collins Lake a second shelter was established at the Theler Center in Belfair. 8 citizens would safely use this shelter Monday night. The shelter would be ran and hosted by the American Red Cross for three days.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning addition fire, police, search and water rescue crews were able to penetrate the Tahuya Peninsula. A tohrough search and damage assessment of the hardest hit Tahuya River valley was initiated. Everyone was found to be safe, accounted for and in good condition. Food and water was distributed to local residents and a suitable passageway for residents was worked on the Tahuya-Blacksmith Road. By Tuesday afternoon Mason County Public Works had reconnected the road and provided a travel way for most residents of the Tahuya Peninsula.
In other area searches it was found that residents on the Mission Creek road were stranded by the loss of two bridges. While most residents could at least walk out of the Mission Creek Valley, residents in the valley on Steelhead Dr would be stranded on the far side of the river by a complete loss of a 20’ section of a bridge. District fire crews set up a makeshift rescue bridge using a ladder for firefighters to deliver food and water to those residents. While the rescue bridge would not allow for citizen passage the district went to on building a studier bridge that would allow foot traffic to reconnect residents on Steelhead Dr.
On Tuesday afternoon, with the help of an Air Force helicopter and crew, the fire district was able to survey the entire 60 square mile Tahuya Peninsula for any citizens needing immediate rescue. Thankfully none were located however it was noticed that Peninsula homes on the East shore of the Hood Canal were inaccessible by road. Numerous homes in the area were severely damaged by mudslides including an entire home that was destroyed when the ground underneath it gave way. As dark grew near a ground search of the area would be needed the next day to ensure that citizens were safe and supplied with food and water.
During the helicopter operation it was also noted that a horse camp in the Tahuya River Valley had 25 horses stranded across the river from its owners. They horses were in standing flood water and in need of food and drinking water. Work immediately began on a plan to get food safely to the horses.
In addition to flood rescue operations the district also worked to provide core services to the district. With the help of two crews South Kitsap Fire and Rescue the district responded to numerous fire and emergency medical calls throughout the district throughout the event.
Wednesday
Beginning at 6am on Wednesday several agencies including the Army Nation Guard, Fire District and Mason County Sheriff’s Office conducted a land and sea search of the rest of the Peninsula. Team members accessed every home on the Burma, Dewatto-Holly, Manke, and Capstan Rock Roads through the use of three boats deployed from Union. All residents were found to be safe with only a few needing food and water. Several homes were found with moderate to major damage from mudslides but no one was hurt. In the destroyed Burma Road home it was found that all residents had gotten out to a neighbors house prior to the ground giving way.
In addition to a search by sea all homes inland on the Peninsula were searched door to door. National Guard Hum-V units, troops, and search and rescue crews were used to traverse the nearly impassible roads. The search included homes on and nearby the Tahuya River Road, Belfair Tahuya Rd, and Dewatto Roads. While some residents needed food and water rescue crews found all residents to be warm and safe.
Also on Wednesday a second air mission was also deployed to again survey for damage. During the mission the Guard air crew picked up two residents at the horse camp, taking them to their horses, over the swollen Tahuya River to the pastures, where they were fed and watered.
By Wednesday almost all areas were accessible by road. The only exceptions were the Burma Road, and Steelhead Road in the Mission Creek Valley. On Steelhead the fire district crews work to create a makeshift walking bring to link residents to the rest of the valley.
In all, over the three day period, over 250 volunteers and rescuers participated in the emergency efforts. While most outside resources have been sent home the fire district is continuing to help with ongoing relief and recovery efforts. The district will be working with the Red Cross to assist Flood Victims with the recovery process.
Beau Bakken
Fire Chief
Mason County Fire District 2
360-275-6711
