Oso 2016

On March 22nd, 2014, a landslide killed 43 people in Snohomish County, Washington. Nearly as many homes were destroyed as a section of hillside fell away. You might remember the following posts from that time, Help Oso Mudslide Victims, Oso Aid, and Oso’s Geological Hazards.

It’s been more than two years since this horrific disaster during which the local community demonstrated a powerful loyalty to their neighbors. The cries of Oso Strong and 530 Strong rang for months as they worked alongside rescue and recovery crews. The Oso Community Chapel, among many other entities, rallied to aid survivors and to help everyone involved process the loss.

It was time to pay my respects. I’d been within a few miles of the slide the week after it happened. There have been plenty of pictures of it. But I needed to see it for myself.

The drive from the town of Arlington seemed to take forever. Approaching the site were numerous red-lettered signs warning people not to park on the shoulders or make any u-turns for two miles. 530 is a two lane, rural highway with freeway speeds. But I was unsure where it was legal to stop so drove up to this spot first and turned around.

Driving back west, I saw a turnout on what used to be Steelhead Drive. It was clearly a memorial for the victims, so noting the absence of no parking signs at this particular point, I stopped for a couple of minutes. This is what I saw.

That used to be a neighborhood. This was a somber sight.

The site is secured by a gate that contains messages of remembrance and hope. I did not get a clear shot of it but someone did a beautiful job of making these wooden signs.

People left mementos. Again, the picture is fuzzy, but the sign in the center of these lovingly placed items says, “believe.”

This is still Steelhead Drive.

The magnitude of this sorrow made for a heavy atmosphere.

There are several rows of decorated young trees to the right of the gate. I’m assuming there’s one for each person who lost their life but I didn’t count.

Across the road another American flag flies proudly.

A couple of more shots while leaving the site. This is such a severe scar on a beautiful area.

Another symbol of unity and pride.

Stopping by the Oso Community Chapel on the way back, I was delighted by its cheery newer paint job.

Signs of community pride are literally everywhere, including on the church’s bulletin board.

The fire department looks quiet now. This was a hive of activity in the Spring of 2014, with vehicles spilling out of the parking lot as well as up and down the highway.

There are still yellow ribbons, flowers, and wreaths for miles, in people’s yards, around road signs, and here outside the fire department.

Statements of strength aren’t difficult to find along this stretch.

This sign captured what I felt best. These people and the first responders and volunteers involved were a formidable force. They mobilized quickly and what they accomplished was flat out heroic. But many are still fighting their way back psychologically, financially, and otherwise. The photos I show here are the sanitized, time-tempered version of the muddy hell that they were working in for so long.

Please keep the Highway 530 community in your hearts as they continue to heal. And thank you to the many people who gave so generously of their time and talents to help this community. I know that some of you are among them.

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If you make one mistake in this life, let it be loving too much. –Jim Hayford

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©2016 H. Hiatt/wildninjablog.com. All articles/posts on this blog are copyrighted original material that may not be reproduced in part or whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from H. Hiatt/wildninjablog.com.