Volunteers gather in Lewis County to aid flood victims

By Rolf Boone | The Olympian • Published December 09, 2007

CHEHALIS – Lewis County got a little sunshine and a lot of help Saturday.

More than 3,000 volunteers gathered in Chehalis and Centralia to help flood victims in the west part of the county, one of the areas hit hardest by last week's flooding, according to estimates.

The volunteer effort, organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, brought church members from as far away as Seattle and Vancouver, Wash., to the twin cities, Bishop John Henricksen said.

From a church in Chehalis and another in Centralia, volunteers fanned out into flood-battered communities such as Adna, Doty, Pe Ell and Boistfort Valley.

Volunteers began working Friday and Saturday, and the church's organized relief effort might continue today, Henricksen said.

As part of their work, volunteers planned to deliver up to 12,000 cleaning kits to homeowners and businesses.

Among those who received assistance:

• Rod Lewis, 77, has owned 60 acres in Boistfort since 1992 and lives along the south fork of the Chehalis River. After last week's rainstorm, the river rose 20 feet and flooded his property with about 3 feet of water.

Strong winds blew off a part of his roof and a deck collapsed, Lewis said. Volunteers helped clean out a garage.

"The valley is filled with the nicest people," he said.

• Steve Roberts, 43, has lived in Boistfort for 27 years. He said floods in the 1990s resulted only in about 6 inches of floodwater, but this time, his house filled with 8 feet of water.

So much mud filled his house that volunteers, delivering cleaning kits in buckets, were forced to dump out the contents and use them to scoop up mud.

Roberts said his property was a total loss. He is living with friends nearby and plans to rebuild his home — at least 6 feet above ground.

• Peggy Birley of Chehalis has lived in the Adna School District for 33 years. Her home was flooded with about 2 feet of water.

Birley said she and her husband, Steve, don't have flood insurance and have lost everything.

"It's all gone. It's just like getting married and starting over again," Birley said with a smile.

Although businesses have reopened and Interstate 5 is operational again, signs of the flooding are scattered through the county.

Along state Route 6 from Chehalis to Boistfort, furniture and garbage, set afloat by flood waters, rest along roadsides or in fields. Railroad beds have been washed away, and piles of mud-caked furniture are stacked in front of homes. One car still was mostly underwater.

The Boistfort Grange has been converted into a command center where people can get food or rest, Assistant Fire Chief Larry Smith said. Smith is with Lewis County Fire District No. 13, Boistfort.

About 500 people live in Boistfort Valley, but it was too early to assess the cost and extent of the damage, he said.

Last week's rainstorms filled the Boistfort fire hall with about 8 feet of water, Smith added.

Smith later was brought to tears as he discussed the support the community has received, including two vehicles that were donated to fire officials.

"I just can't believe what people have done," he said. "They gave us the keys and said, 'It's yours.' "

Rolf Boone is a reporter for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5403 or rboone@theolympian.com.