Kah-Nee-Ta pool is now filled with cinder-colored mud, logs and other debris.
When Mother Earth gets on the warpath and does
things destructively there's hardly anything anyone can
do to stop her. Snow about a foot deep or more was lying
on the ground and the tempetures were well within
freezing or lower when there was a sudden change in
weather. The weather turned from frigid cold to balmy
warm. Coming with the change was a lot of rain which
caused the snow to melt. The unseasonable runoff came
gushing down the hillsides causing streams and creeks
to rise dramatically above flood stage. After flood waters
were running all over the countryside, there was an
emergency stage here in Warm Springs which closed
roads to through traffic. The emergency status caused
the whole Tribal operation to close its doors and let
employees go home at 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 7
before the real force hit the area.
Danny Martinez, the tribe's newest fire chief called an
emergency meeting at 7:00 A.M., Wednesday, February
7, 1996, because of the conditions that were arising. At
tnat time Kan-rJee-la personnel were monitormg the
water flow of the Warm Springs river. Around 7:45 a.m.
it was decided to evacuate the Kah-Nee-Ta Village. At
8:30 an emergency team was formed and a meeting was
called among Martinez, Karmen Blake, Mike Gomez,
Oswald Tias, Anita Jackson, and a few others who
decided on some kind of plan for the crisis on hand.
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Marnnez contacted tne Kea Lross, out ot bend, at 8:45
a.m. The Red Cross came immediately and set up quarters
in the Agency Longhouse. To get to the Simnasho
Longhouse they had to go back to Madras and up
Highway 97 to Maupin and come in through Walter"s;
Corner to set up operations in the Simnasho longhouse.
Fire Management was contacted to organize a plan
for the disaster in the making. The Utilities department
was called to open up the Longhouse for tribal sanitarian
Nancy Collins so she could set up to provide shelter and
meals for flood stricken victims and for those who
volunteered their time during the flood.
Martinez, who was in command, called on Mike
Gomez to be his assistant to relieve him of some of his
duties which were piling higher and higher and from
every direction at the minutes ticked bv.
Members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
who were holding their Mid-Year conference at Kah-
Nee-1 a were isolated for a night. The next day attendees
were evacuated while some had to spend another night
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A large Coke machine washed into the Village parking lot.
work during the week. He declared the schools to shut The emergency group began strategizing Thursday
down and get the kids home before the real high waters and at that time 18,000 CFS was released from the dam.
arrived. Instead of unloading kids at the Community Road closures of highway 3, 26. Highway 26 at mile post
oz, was called tne badger Lake, ine uescnutes Kiver
Center buses were directed to unload at the Agency
Longhouse, because the Community Center was right in
the rloodpath and it was safer at the Longhouse. At first,
there was quite a congestion at the Longhouse because
the Red Cross was there setting up quarters. Fortunately,
things went smoothly.
Martinez said about 5 p.m. the decision was made that
we are in a disaster nosition and railed FF.M A and DF A
morning. The Museum area was flooded and people of his decision, but both offices were already flooded
from the Rairbow trailer court were evacuated. Around with calls from other Darts of the state on the same
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bridge near the cafe was closed at 10 a.m. as waves were
splashing onto the bridge. The Pel ton Re-Reg. was ready
to let emergency traffic through. Residents advised
people to stay at home. The Command post was set up
at the fire management training Center.
On Friday afternoon things began to stabilize. The
Red Cross was here all five days under the direction of
Ralph Meves and David Gassaway.
1130 a.m Kah-Nee-Ta Village was under water. Resort
security officer Kip Moris made his way down highway
8 to check on Benny Heath, the Moody Ranch and the
Meanus family. Coast Guard was contacted as the
On Saturday management was contacted to start
conditions. But at 7:45 that evening, they called back for making assessments of all damages caused by the flood
a verbal confirmation of the declaration of the disaster
position. Martinez said it was officially declared a disaster
area at 8:30 p.m. ODOT was on hand monitoring the
problem worsened. The lower end of Warm Springs roadways. At 8:45 the Shitike Creek Bridge was declared
Forest Products Industries was under water by unpassable. Highway 26 was closed. At 9:30 police
Martinez said it was anticipated that there would be
a big problem and made the decision to have all
employees go home to prevent further tie-ups later on.
Their concern was for the safety of local people and that
was the reason for calling the dosere of all offices and
and in the meeting of managers on Sunday Danny
Martinez turned things back to Management
There were some harsh feelings from many during
the time of the crisis, but the decisions were made to
protect the people from anv kind of accident. This was a
released people from jail to help with the sand bagging, disaster that no accidents were reported because of the
Uomez and the Loast Uuard tlew over Kah-Nee-Ta safety precautions taken by the emergency group. Also
Village to film the flood, showing the distruction the the management around here was so well organized like
waters were causing. The Coast Guard went on to they were expecting something like this where everyone
evacuate 1 1 people from along the Deschutes River, who cooperated and things went smoothly as can be expected,
were isolated there said Martinez.