The Nehalem Valley Community Church has organized into a local emergency operations center. Under Pastor Abel Baker, Elder Mike Carter and Victor Torrico, and with the Fire Chief Mike Wammack, the church is a hub of activity. Deb Treusdell and Jeanette Nachbar coordinate efforts for disbursement of MREs and blankets while doing triage on requests as information is collected.
Driveways that have been closed since snowfall accumulated over 10 days ago need to be dug out so inhabitants can restock much needed food supplies, gasoline for generators, and clean water. The pumps for wells have gone out and many Jewell residents have been using snow or water from rivers for drinking as well as (limited) bathing purposes.
“One of the most needed things right now,” said Mike Torrico, “is dry firewood. If people could donate dry firewood it would really, really help out. What most people here have is very wet, saturated wood that is hardly better than no wood at all.”
For one group of Jewell residents 17 days have gone by without power, according to Torrico. “People out here are prepared to go three or four days without power, or in snow conditions. No one was prepared for both conditions together. We have had the most snow that has been seen out here in twenty years and had a loss of power for two weeks with some as long as three weeks. You just can’t prepare for that.”
While the community is pulling together through the efforts of their church manpower from the surrounding communities can still be used. “In the lower Nehalem area we need to help people dig out of the snow,” Torrico explained, “we sure could use the help of more volunteers to do that.”
Volunteers are needed to bring wood out to Jewell from people who are donating wood, ferry other supplies that have been donated, to shovel snow out of driveway entrances where snowplows piled excess, and to help remove debris off of roads to make them passable.
Volunteers are encouraged to drive in vehicles that have high clearance. Jewell is under a flood watch at this time as snow melts and the rains continue (with forecasts of more snow in the near future). Volunteers should also have cell phones using Verizon as it is the only one with coverage in the area at the present time and they will need to be able to stay in contact with the command center at the church.
Torrico said that contributions of gasoline are also needed at the present time. While more generators do not appear to be needed, yet, the ones that are in use cost about $10 per day to run. For people who have been unable to make it in to work, at the end of the month and year, an additional $50-$100 out of their budget is not easily affordable.
Torrico has asked that a list of people willing to donate their generators be kept. As more residents of Jewell are contacted with the help of the CERT teams and volunteers the coordinators will have a better idea of how many more are needed. In some spots throughout Jewell the power came on last night, only to be lost again today. According to West Oregon Electric Cooperative, INC the power is expected to be on “soon”.NorthCoastOregon.com told Torrico that it would keep a list of people who would like to donate their generators. NCO will also take your information if you have a donation of dry firewood or gasoline. Please email your name, phone number and address of where to pick up the item you are donating to
NorthCoastOregon.com.
People may also bring their donations to the Nehalem Valley Community Church 80803 Highway 103, Seaside, OR 97138; 503-755-2376. Volunteers may either call first or just show up at the church. Monetary donations need to go through the church, earmarked for the Jewell relief efforts.
The National Weather Service out of Portland is reporting a cold front arriving this afternoon with the snow level falling to 800 ft by late afternoon and holding through the night. Snow showers will bring one to three inches of snow later this afternoon with another two to five inches possible tonight. The Coast Range of Northwest Oregon-Willapa Hills including the cities of Vernonia, Jewell, Trask, Frances, and Ryderwood are targeted in the forecast.
People in Jewell are asked to continue to check on their neighbors to ensure their safety and to call the Church to apprise the coordinators if they have a need of gasoline, firewood, generators, or people to help them with snow or debris removal. For critical needs or conditions call the Sheriff’s office at 503-325-8635. For emergencies call 911.
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