Just when folks in the Santiam Canyon area were getting back on their feet from the Labor Day wildfires, the worst ice storm in 40 years hit hard, once again placing many at the mercy of their neighbors and local businesses for help.
“Marion County is filled with ‘service above self’ believing neighbors,” said Commissioner Danielle Bethell, quoting the Rotarian Creed. “During my campaign throughout 2020, I met many of these service providers. During the start of COVID-19 I saw many step up to help small businesses with skills that were needed for pivoting. During the Beachie Creek and Lionshead wildfires, I saw many step up to help evacuate, feed, house, clean up, and now on to rebuilding. Now … we saw the same desire to help, but of course through a new crisis.”
With hundreds of downed power lines and hundreds of blocked roads, government and utility crews were maxed working since the “wee hours” of Feb. 13 morning, Bethell said.
“The Santiam Canyon is on the list but not the first to get attention for basic things such as roadway access,” she added. “So, what happens? A local small business steps up again!”
Siegmund Landscape Supply in Mehama had two plow trucks and a grader working from 4 p.m. Feb. 13 until 1:15 a.m. Feb. 14 to clear roads.
“We’ll touch up a few more streets again tomorrow,” Andrew Siegmund promised residents.
Chuck Woodring offered to get some dry clothes on and return to pull people out of emergency situations. “I have a tractor and can help if you need it,” he said.
Karen Clark posted she had heard private citizens were plowing themselves out in Idanha and Detroit.
Jon Purkey asked for a ride from Idanha to Mill City to buy groceries; Candy Ramos and her hubby came to the rescue with their king-cab truck. To Purkey’s thank you, she replied, “No problem, it’s Valentine’s Day.”
More reports poured in of people stuck because of the ice. Local community sites filled with comments from those needing or offering help.
“My husband is a millwright at Frank Lumber,” posted Irene Jackson on Facebook. “He had to drive into Salem to get some parts they needed. Their cell service and computers are all down! They are completely cut off up in Mill City!”
Jackson proposed for people to check on Canyon residents, already recovering from fire damage, to see if anything is needed.
“Take them a pizza,” Jackson said. “Stay and visit and talk to them face to face like the old days!”
Jackson’s power went out Feb. 12, as did that of many of her neighbors in the corridor running from Aumsville and Stayton up through Mill City and Detroit.
Days later she was still waiting for power to be restored.
“Our transformer blew,” Jackson, who lives on Myrtle Street in Stayton, explained. “Our backyard got completely destroyed from neighbors’ trees on all three sides. They took out the fences, grape arbor, raised beds, swing set, fruit trees, etc. Trees and branches everywhere! Completely covered our backyard! At least they didn’t hit our house!”
Katie McCoy was looking for a free yard debris dump place to be available to take about three truckloads of her arborvitae that “bent beyond recovery or simply broke off.”
Then the City of Stayton opened the Mill Creek Park Storm Debris Drop Site.
The city also opened an electronic device charging station Feb. 16 at the community center so residents could recharge their devices and grab a granola bar and recharge themselves, too.
Ruby Turner was without power and water beginning Feb. 12.
“We are on Golf Club Road and had to drive away just to get cell service,” she shared.
Downed power poles put the area on the map as one of the hardest hit in the state. Pacific Power, with thousands of customers in the dark, predicted it would be a week or more before every household had electricity restored.
With so many families without power, school districts canceled school for the week of Feb. 15.
Santiam Canyon School District Superintendent Todd Miller told families in his district, “I think we have reached our max on emergencies for the year. I would tell you to please reach out to us if you need support, but at this time, we have no communications to the schools. I will let you know when that changes.”
The North Santiam School District notified families that district schools would be closed through the end of the week because approximately 1,700 families were still without power. Cascade School District also canceled classes.
Despite added hardships, humor was still alive.
Michelle Hess posted “rare raw natural ice infused with essential oils from cotton wood, $5 a pound.”
“I can get other natural wood ice, too,” she said raising laughing emojis with a photo of her down branches.
A photo of a groundhog came with the caption, “Y’all thought I was playin’!” And Lori Kadlitz posted, “Y’all better be nice today. Day 5, no power and only one shower. I’m not playing around!” After adding “LOL” to her post, she did encourage people to be nice to each other, saying “be the great community we’ve always been. Stay warm and stay positive.”
Community sites for local businesses were ready to help neighbors with ice storm woes. Many posted thanks to workers for their help. Others offered assistance to their neighbors. Santiam Sports Center in Mill City offered linemen and first responders to stop in for a free cup of coffee, to warm up and to use the restroom.
Casey Cioffi posted, “If you’re still out of power in the Aumsville/Stayton area, let me know what you need besides power! We have a well so if you need fresh water or water for your animals/livestock, I’m happy to help.”
Brianna Rogers and her friends offered help clearing debris for their neighbors.
“We’re always looking for ways to serve the community,” she said.
Stayton Vital Health offered showers on Feb. 17 for those still without power. Joy of Donuts, Mill City, and The Donut Hole, Stayton, brought donuts to linemen, police, firefighters and others. And good old’ fashioned cash could get people a hot meal at local eateries which opened despite power and Internet challenges.
Despite the weather, Caesar the No-Drama Llama still showed up Saturday at Evelyn Joe’s Farmhouse Café in Mehama on Valentine’s Day to give out hugs and kisses to visitors, a few of whom grabbed lunch.
“Most delicious raspberry white-chocolate mocha and chicken Caesar salad wrap,” said Micah Keto. “Great Valentine’s lunch!”
For those on SNAP benefits who lost food to the ice storm, help was offered to replace some SNAP dollars, with funds added back on Oregon EBT cards. A replacement form had to be turned in to the Oregon Department of Human Services office in person within ten days of the loss, so Santiam Hospital’s SIT team spent the week offering onsite support at Anthony Hall to help families apply.
Pandemic, windstorm, wildfires, ice storm… In a long year of extraordinary circumstances the community continued display the heart to help others.
