Long Lines, Demobilization and the Drive Home

Thursday evening found supervisor Dick and myself touring the flood areas north of Lander. It was a stunning evening. The waters and flooding threat in Lander had receded. Folks were starting to amp up to get out. They call it the "glide path". When the direction changes from getting 'er done to getting out, it becomes a race to be the first ones out! I waited an hour and a half in the Finance line today as workers, equipment operators, and staff plodded through the archaic process of handwriting and hand checking numbers.

Concern shifted to the north with the Big Wind river rising thanks to a significant rain Wednesday night in the Togwotee Mountains which feed this river. I drove along this river on my way home today admiring the river's giant round boulders with raging foamy water rushing downstream. There was plenty of water, but it looked like a normal spring runoff.

So, just like that, I am home, the threat seems over and I ponder all I have learned from this experience. Many folks very willingly offered-up suggestions and I will compile these notes should Teton County see a flood. The week was an amazing experience in watching the Incident Command System at work, the willingness of 43 agencies to work together, the local support and appreciation and my gratitude at being a part, albeit a very small part, of the Freemont Flood of 2010. Thanks for sending me, Chief!

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The Second Flood that Did Not Come

Today's report; 289 people on the ground working with 72 pieces of equipment. Two Blackhawk helicopters. 500,000 filled sandbags and that many more unfilled. The rivers rise, but ever so slightly!

Just the two of us on the night time shift. Originally it was thought that tonight might be the big night of rising waters and evacuations. Not so. At least right now. I have made my river rounds, doing a visual on river height. Our job, as the only two mobile with eyes on the river streams, is to alert the higer-ups should there be a significant change in water flow. They say it takes 8 hours for the water to make it to town from the mountain cirques.

Now, I am parked next to the Holiday Inn Express, poaching the wireless to make this late post. Before it fell dark tonight, Dick Terry and I scouted the low lands of concern in the light. My time to post is best suited for right now.

Photography is limited on night time shifts. Our scenario with the Guard went great last night. Dick and I even got in there and moved sandbags with the crew. It was nice to get the heart rate up and work side by side with the guys and gals from the Guard throwing bags. The word came down today; no more sandbags. Most likely, many filled here will end up in other parts of Wyoming in need.

I will demob on Friday after the 10am briefing. The drive back to Jackson won't be easy, having been awake all night. I'll pull over and sleep if needed. Even though everyone hopes this second flood won't come, much work has been put into protecting the town. Everyone wants to be a hero and those here are no different; a bit of let down will be felt if the waters don't even try the dikes and sandbags that were placed to foil the river's encroachment.

Time to go. Time will tell if the second flood will come to this 32 square mile event.

Calm before the Storm?

Temperatures went up to 80 plus degrees today and the waters are responding equally. Tonight's night shift may very well see high waters, although tomorrow night is the big concern. Day crews are building up sandbag dikes, reinforcing the weak spots. A practice emergency scenario will be conducted with the night crew and National Guard. Much concern exits (amongst us fire folks) that the lack of communication with the Guard sets us all up for disaster. Ummmm, LCES, right? Should be a good scenario tonight. Sorry that pictures may be impossible. This night work is tough on the photographer!

Accommodations are found at the local high school. I have procured a Red Cross cot in a very dark gymnasium with just the right white noise. No one else is sleeping at 1 in the afternoon. Awake at 4pm, rested and ready to go! A nice shower in the girls locker room and a meal of sushi from Safeway. Life is good!!

The sandpits are where the real work for this flood gets done. Thousands upon thousands of sand bags are filled 24-7 by local volunteers and Guardsmen. The guard folks are amazing to watch. Like a team of ants, they fill, tie, toss, pile, move and move the 50 pound plus bags from pit to the place of need. They are a working machine. Well rehearsed and orchestrated.

Gotta go! The boss needs to make a plan!

Sandbags, sandbags, sandbags.....

After a cold and wet weekend, the rivers that converge on Lander, Wyoming look to flood once again.

Jackson Hole Fire/EMS was requested to send resources to the flooding area, about a 3 hour drive from Jackson. Upon direction from Chief Watsabaugh, I arrived in Lander this morning and reported into Command. For some time, it was unclear what my job would be. There was talk of a night shift and then Operations found me and directed me to Division Bravo. There, I found the local county fire chief waiting for the power company to turn on power after a back hoe had hit the power line above. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I got the tour around Squaw Creek (beautiful Utah-looking country) and then around to a drainage whose name I can only remember started with "B". The landscape is flourescent green and lush. Mules ears are blooming yellow and red paint brush reach up toward today's sunlight. After so many days of overcast and cold, in today's sunny, warm weather one could almost see things grow! The warm weather, however, has the rivers rising again. We'll see what the early morning hours bring; that's the time when the river will crest.

The Army Corps of Engineers started building the "Wall of Lander", as named by the workers, last Saturday. I have been unable to determine exactly how far it streches, but it is an impressive fortress!! Lander is the confluence of several waterways spilling out of the lovely Winds, the mountains that grace the western horizon. Many homes have, and may again, flood. Ranch trucks covered in the local brown/red mud roam town. About 1500 hours, it was determined that, alas, I would be part of the night crew!

I understand the crest of last week's flood was on Tuesday. I will know more from tonight's planning meeting to be held at 2100 hours (argh, when my shift will start), but worry seems to focus on tonight and tomorrow night's runoff. Weather is reportedly moving in and that could cool things off. Another day like today, and tomorrow I will have pictures of the "Lander Wall" in action!!

I have heard there are over 200 National Gaurd troops here. Fellow worker Butch Gosselin is here, but I fear I may never find him. The operations of managing the flood are spread out over at least a 30 mile area. Troops are everywhere - and they all look the same!! Butch had better be looking for me in my bright, green JH Fire truck!! Who knows where he might be!

Time to rest. This is all I'll get before the night's work. Put my site on your favorites; I'll try to update every day; probably around this time.

Big News, BIG FISH!!

This beautiful 35 pound lake trout was caught around 2pm this afternoon (June 8) out of Jackson Lake by the Captain, Mike Trumbower. After weigh-in, pictures, and measuring, the magnificant fish was released back into the waters to live on. It was a thrilling catch and release!!

Woman's Best Time Work Capacity Test Record Holder

Six minutes, four seconds.