Monday, Jan. 12, 2009

Flooding woes continue in Richland, W. Richland

By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

Paul and Gail Hoobler's 11-acres off Hyde Road in Richland still were submerged in water late Sunday evening, but they had reason to rejoice: Floodwaters stayed about 6 inches away from the area where they had left their three sheep and 20 chickens.

The water's about 6 feet deep, but they're going to make it, said Paul, who canoed to his property several times to check on his animals. They are on higher ground where the family recently built a bait shop, he said.

Cari Foster is eager to clean up after the waters recede on her property at Gomer Road and Van Giesen Street in West Richland. But she doesn't know when she'll get to start. Several roads in Richland and West Richland remained closed to traffic because of waterlogging.

The Yakima River is expected to go below the flood level today at Benton City, said Steve Sautter, spokesman for the Benton County Emergency Services.

The river level was at 13 feet Sunday, compared with the 15.5 feet recorded Saturday, he said. The Emergency Operations Center, which was activated Saturday in response to flooding, was closed Sunday evening as water levels came down.

It's time for damage assessment now, Sautter said.

Starting today, local residents and businesses can report personal property damage by filling out forms available on the Benton County Emergency Services website, www.bces.wa.gov.

Also, the Benton Franklin Health District is urging homeowners in flooded areas to get their water wells tested for contamination.

For Foster, floodwaters will leave behind a big mess. There'll be a lot of wet bales of hay to clean up, said Foster who evacuated her 18 cows and nine horses to safety Saturday.

She and her boyfriend, who runs Almond & Son's Asphalt from the property, also managed to remove a lot of equipment in time. Compared to the 1996 flood, the damage seems to be minimal, Foster said.

Michael and Wendy Eller lost firewood worth about $700 to $1,000 near their home on Van Giesen Street in Richland. "It just floated away," Michael said. The floodwaters didn't touch their home, but crept up their driveway. The family couldn't even go to church.

Greg Sullivan, who stayed put in his home off Kingston Road that was surrounded by a big pool of water, went out in a canoe to help save a neighbor's cows Sunday. Sullivan even cut part of a wooden fence to give access to the herd. But nothing could persuade them, he said.

Sullivan's wife Deani said she hopes the water level will go down. "If we can get the truck out, it'll be helpful," she said.

Most of their neighbors moved livestock away before the water level rose, she said.

People helped each other out, Greg said. "(There's) nothing like a little adversity to remind us that we're alive."