It is now Day 36 since we have left for Southern California. From our first day on the Indian reservation we have worked day and night, seven days a week, Thanksgiving and Sundays for one reason—to get the home sites cleared so FEMA can get trailers in before the expected rains and mudslides hit.
Today, Friday, November 30, marks the completion of the home sites we were asked to clean and prepare for trailers but today is also the day the rain began. For the last few weeks I’ve been getting up every morning at 3 am with my heart pounding and my mind running. There are so many things to think of… this idea I have for the First Response Team…how will it work? Should I keep paying for this? Will we get this done in time before the rains come?
At dawn, we pulled the grapple truck out of its safe parking area and headed into the mountains to extract what would have been the last few loads of metal and ash remaining. But then it started to rain. By the time we got rain suits on we were completely soaked. Within 30 minutes we found ourselves in a predicament. As our crane began to sink into the ash and clay, we immediately realized there wasn’t much time to figure out what action to take. Before we even knew what was happening, the crane started sliding sideways down the mountainside. There was a tractor trailer not too far from where we were working so we called to him for help. He positioned his equipment on the nearby roadway allowing us to create a stabilizing rigging system.
We have prepared for these types of worse case scenarios. Without delay, Seth hooked up a custom cable sling, latching it onto all main pulling points of the crane with equal pulling pressure. Tim speedily began combining chain-after-chain-after-chain, which we then secured to the assisting tractor trailer fixed firmly on nearby asphalt. FEMA was calling and letting us know that landslides were beginning to cover surrounding highways and insisting that there was no time to save the truck. Our hearts were racing as mandatory evacuations were declared and nearby neighborhood roads were being engulfed with mud.
At this point, all of our hearts were pounding. I did not want to lose my $310,000 crane truck but I also wanted myself and my men to be safe. As we tried the first pull away, the 65,000-pound crane again started sliding sideways down the hill. Luckily, the crane crashed against a huge pile of metal and stopped. We repositioned the slings, cables, and chains and 45 minutes later we finally recovered the rig.
Before we evacuated, we took the two CAT skid steers and placed them in separate locations on the Indian reservation. We picked the areas we thought would get hit the worst and left the CATs there. When the rain stops we will return, and if the mud does not take away the machines we will use them to dig these people out.
We began to find our way down the mountain by Highway 76. We were told that the road was closed by mudslides but no one knew where. We decided to head south and found ourselves in a little town called Julian. It’s safe here. The mountains surrounding us have trees on them to hold back the mud. The fire did not hit here. We will stay here tonight.
I’m relieved that Seth, Tim and I are safe. My equipment? Well I guess we will find out in a few hours if it made it. We found an old hotel to stay at. Right now, the weather outside sounds like a scary movie. The wind whistles through this old building like…well, I just can’t explain how it sounds. The rain is crashing against the window so loud it sounds like someone is taking their hands and beating on the side of the wall.
This is the day we were trying to beat and in a way we did. We got the home sites done but today the pressure was on. We evacuated successfully, and we are safe. What else could you ask for? Now if I could just get my heart to calm its beating I might be able to get some sleep.
La Jolla is the poorest Indian reservation in the area as they have no casino and no thriving business to keep financial resources coming in. But….La Jolla is the first Indian reservation to be cleaned up and the first for trailers to be brought in for people to live in. The federal government cannot believe the work we have performed in such a short period of time, and the tribal council is so proud to say their reservation is on its way to a full recovery.
I’m proud of my men, I’m proud of our equipment, I’m thankful for all of our friends who have stood by our side, encouraging us to keep on, and I’m thankful we are safe.
The poor Indian tribe of La Jolla has something to be proud of again, and they are rebuilding their lives and facing new challenges with newfound assurance that they can and will overcome.
This is why Disaster Recovery Solutions’ First Response Team exists—for moments like this. To persevere hand-in-hand with those who have lost everything. Sharing in the hope that we can and will overcome every obstacle. Nothing is impossible, and better days are ahead.
Life will always be full of challenges. May we always find the courage to face the impossible and never give up. And when I can’t find the strength inside me, may I always be given the grace to be reminded that help is a prayer away.
Today, Friday, November 30, marks the completion of the home sites we were asked to clean and prepare for trailers but today is also the day the rain began. For the last few weeks I’ve been getting up every morning at 3 am with my heart pounding and my mind running. There are so many things to think of… this idea I have for the First Response Team…how will it work? Should I keep paying for this? Will we get this done in time before the rains come?
At dawn, we pulled the grapple truck out of its safe parking area and headed into the mountains to extract what would have been the last few loads of metal and ash remaining. But then it started to rain. By the time we got rain suits on we were completely soaked. Within 30 minutes we found ourselves in a predicament. As our crane began to sink into the ash and clay, we immediately realized there wasn’t much time to figure out what action to take. Before we even knew what was happening, the crane started sliding sideways down the mountainside. There was a tractor trailer not too far from where we were working so we called to him for help. He positioned his equipment on the nearby roadway allowing us to create a stabilizing rigging system.
We have prepared for these types of worse case scenarios. Without delay, Seth hooked up a custom cable sling, latching it onto all main pulling points of the crane with equal pulling pressure. Tim speedily began combining chain-after-chain-after-chain, which we then secured to the assisting tractor trailer fixed firmly on nearby asphalt. FEMA was calling and letting us know that landslides were beginning to cover surrounding highways and insisting that there was no time to save the truck. Our hearts were racing as mandatory evacuations were declared and nearby neighborhood roads were being engulfed with mud.
At this point, all of our hearts were pounding. I did not want to lose my $310,000 crane truck but I also wanted myself and my men to be safe. As we tried the first pull away, the 65,000-pound crane again started sliding sideways down the hill. Luckily, the crane crashed against a huge pile of metal and stopped. We repositioned the slings, cables, and chains and 45 minutes later we finally recovered the rig.
Before we evacuated, we took the two CAT skid steers and placed them in separate locations on the Indian reservation. We picked the areas we thought would get hit the worst and left the CATs there. When the rain stops we will return, and if the mud does not take away the machines we will use them to dig these people out.
We began to find our way down the mountain by Highway 76. We were told that the road was closed by mudslides but no one knew where. We decided to head south and found ourselves in a little town called Julian. It’s safe here. The mountains surrounding us have trees on them to hold back the mud. The fire did not hit here. We will stay here tonight.
I’m relieved that Seth, Tim and I are safe. My equipment? Well I guess we will find out in a few hours if it made it. We found an old hotel to stay at. Right now, the weather outside sounds like a scary movie. The wind whistles through this old building like…well, I just can’t explain how it sounds. The rain is crashing against the window so loud it sounds like someone is taking their hands and beating on the side of the wall.
This is the day we were trying to beat and in a way we did. We got the home sites done but today the pressure was on. We evacuated successfully, and we are safe. What else could you ask for? Now if I could just get my heart to calm its beating I might be able to get some sleep.
La Jolla is the poorest Indian reservation in the area as they have no casino and no thriving business to keep financial resources coming in. But….La Jolla is the first Indian reservation to be cleaned up and the first for trailers to be brought in for people to live in. The federal government cannot believe the work we have performed in such a short period of time, and the tribal council is so proud to say their reservation is on its way to a full recovery.
I’m proud of my men, I’m proud of our equipment, I’m thankful for all of our friends who have stood by our side, encouraging us to keep on, and I’m thankful we are safe.
The poor Indian tribe of La Jolla has something to be proud of again, and they are rebuilding their lives and facing new challenges with newfound assurance that they can and will overcome.
This is why Disaster Recovery Solutions’ First Response Team exists—for moments like this. To persevere hand-in-hand with those who have lost everything. Sharing in the hope that we can and will overcome every obstacle. Nothing is impossible, and better days are ahead.
Life will always be full of challenges. May we always find the courage to face the impossible and never give up. And when I can’t find the strength inside me, may I always be given the grace to be reminded that help is a prayer away.
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