By Paul Brown

Publisher

Sunday marks the first anniversary of the deadly Oso landslide. I can clearly remember what I was doing at the moment I first heard what happened. It was on that awful Saturday morning that my wife and I were driving south on I-5 from Arlington when we saw the caravan of emergency vehicles heading north. At first, I thought there must have been a terrible accident. Or possibly a building was on fire. But there were so many police, aid cars and fire trucks that led me to believe there had to be something much more than that.

We tuned the car radio to a news station and heard the horrible news that a mountainside collapsed upon a neighborhood. The ensuing mud, clay, rocks and other debris had wiped out homes along Steelhead Drive. Though we knew there had to be lives lost, in our wildest dreams, we had no idea that the final death count would tally 43. Throughout the remainder of that day and into Sunday, we were fixated on news broadcasts for updates. We were

hoping that, by some miracle, everyone would have made it out safely.

We really had no idea just how much devastation had occurred. But we kept watching the news and praying and hoping. I remember the first aerial images that came across the news wire. I was aghast that such an event of this kind could occur in our back yard.

So many lives were forever changed that day, mine included. What impacted me equally as much as the event itself was how the communities of Darrington, Arlington, Lakewood, Smokey Point, Tulalip and Marysville mobilized immediately to render support. I’ve always known the people of our communities were kind and supportive. But to see the communities pull together by volunteering their time and resources and setting up fund-raising campaigns almost immediately was truly humbling.

Families opened their kitchens, provided food for first responders and then asked, “What else can I do to help?” Churches rallied with their own resources, including critical spiritual support and guidance. Businesses raised funds and sacrificed time and resources to give needed assistance.

I had the privilege of working Cabela’s hot dog stand with a number of other employees. Geez, we cooked so many hot dogs that I smelled hot dogs for three days. We had so many people donate sizable checks for the cause. One man handed over a check for $3,000 and would not even take a hot dog. But the most heart-warming donations came from small children who tearfully reached into their pockets or little purses to donate what change they had. I did not see one person entering or leaving Cabela’s that day that did not make a donation. Large or small, it didn’t matter. Their hearts were into doing what they could to help.

My hat goes off to the staff at Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington. That facility mobilized immediately and was taking in victims of the slide. They were mostly prepared by the time the first aid car or helicopter landed there. What an honor it was to see this excellent group of employees, doctors, nurses, aides, administrators and volunteers work with a high degree of compassion and professionalism. They were able to retrain their own emotions to care for those who needed them most. I salute the Stillaguamish and Tulalip tribes for rendering immediate financial aid. Without hesitation, they pushed through sizable funds to help the victims, families and first responders. And, of course, the people of all our communities rallied with their own resources. Most rallied in prayer, and many participated in vigils. These are just a few acts of altruism and compassion I observed and experienced. There were many more.

Communities are not defined by their homes and buildings. Communities are defined by the people who live there. It is times like the Oso landslide and the Marysville-Pilchuck disaster that bring out the true nature of who we are. So, while we continue to grieve from the loss, I invite us all to celebrate the wonderful nature of our friends, families and neighbors. We really are blessed to live, work and play here. And I want to thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this phenomenal little corner of the world.