Labor, trades councils create Nippon fundraiser; AWPPW hall set up as crisis center

A community fund is now taking donations to help families of Nippon Dynawave workers cover unexpected expenses in the aftermath of Tuesday's tragic chemical blast.

The Cowlitz Wahkiakum Central Labor Council and Longview/Kelso Building Trades Council opened the account late Wednesday at the Lower Columbia Longshoremen's Federal Credit Union.

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According to Terry Carlson, president of the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Central Labor Council, the Central Labor Council is working to get online donation systems up and running by the weekend, but he urged locals to make deposits in person if possible at the credit union's main branch at 629 14th Ave. in Longview.

"The need is now," Carlson said.

Those mailing their donations are asked to include "Family Fund Donation" in the check memo line.

Carlson said the online donation efforts are delayed because they want to find a way that minimizes transaction fees.

The account will help families of injured, missing and killed Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers laborers with burial costs and other emergency expenses.

Carlson said the Central Labor Council has been helping families with a wide assortment of needs this week. As one example, he described helping the wife of one lost worker who had the only key to the family vehicle.

"It's weird things, off-the-wall," Carlson said. "The needs are so broad."

AWPPW

A sign at the AWPPW hall on Wednesday, May 27 in Longview. Loved ones affected by the Tuesday chemical spill are asked to check in at the hall.

A significant need is helping workers' families cover the sudden and unexpected expense of burying a loved one.

"Most of them were young guys with families," Carlson said.

"When you're mourning, you shouldn't have to go on social media and raise money," he later added.

Carlson did not say how much had been raised yet, but he's heard from local donors who intend to make contributions to the fund. Further, several local businesses such as the Longview Grocery Outlet are collecting funds that will go into the account, and fundraisers such as a barbecue this weekend at Bob's Sporting Goods will also go into the fund.

"We have a pretty good chunk going," Carlson said.

The funds raised will be used at the discretion of the AWPPW. As soon as there's a request, Carlson said the Central Labor Council will immediately cut a check.

Other families just want answers, according to Carlson.

"The biggest thing everybody wants is answers and that's hard to come by," Carlson said.

How can families get information?

The AWPPW Hall at 724 15th Ave. is being designated as the family assistance center, which AWPPW Local 580 spokesman Josh Estes said remains staffed with family assistance and crisis support resources for affected families and workers "including mental health, chaplaincy and counseling support services."

People with questions about missing loved one are asked to go there.

"We understand families want answers immediately, and emotions are understandably very high. Right now, our focus remains on supporting families, respecting the recovery effort, and standing beside the workers, responders, and community impacted by this tragedy," Estes said in an email.

Nippon Dynawave spokesperson Sam Jeffries emailed The Daily News a prepared statement Thursday morning saying that the company is "moving quickly to support the efforts of first responders to locate our missing colleagues," and that the company's "immediate focus" is on supporting those recovery efforts.

"This tragedy has devastated our community, and we ask that the privacy of the families processing their grief and living with uncertainty is respected at this unimaginable time," Jeffries said. "We will continue to work closely with emergency response teams and our union and will provide more information in the coming days."

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