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Alaska snowstorm: How a small community cleaned up a big messAn overheard conversation in Cordova: An old woman steps to the side of the trail for a faster, younger woman to pass. Neither know each until now. Old Woman: Can you get by? Young woman: Sure honey. You gonna be all right? Old Woman: (with gusto) OH YEAH! Young Woman: (with gusto) You got it all day long! Right? Fences literally came down and neighbors crossed property lines to help one another during Cordova’s big snow earlier this month. Everyone could empathize with everyone else’s dilemma whether it be clearing snow or getting to the store. All kinds of stories are being heard about the hundreds of hours spent lightening roof loads, preventing collapse. People contributed to the emergency effort in so many ways; from babysitting to feeding others. At least in recent times, a snow emergency was a new experience for Cordovans as folks began to dig themselves out in each neighborhood. And from there the process worked like exponential fractals, circling outward toward the next neighbor, the next need, and the next. “One person helps another-- you call someone and then they call some one else, or several people,” said State Trooper and Fire Chief Mike Hicks” That's how it works. That's how a community takes care of itself. If it's safe, you stop to help someone shovel out and that goodwill grows as it’s passed along." Eccles Creek has long been a community that sticks together. “We’ve got a great neighborhood.” said Anita Smyke. "After we dug ourselves and each other out we moved on to Pat Kearney’s Hanger at city field and we’ve been digging it out for the last four days afraid the roof was going to collapse.” The Smykes and others were able to save the historical Mudhole Smith Cordova Air hanger and the airplanes inside. Anita said despite the storm difficulties she was experiencing happiness at having her family safe at home the extra time. “The kids are fine and taking advantage of the snow-in to spend time with their friends. On Monday, when Jesse walked into her college geography class in Durango, the topics were the Cordova snow storm and Nome fuel shortage.” Shoveling the old railroad house on Chase Avenue and belonging to Tom Bond wintering in Arizona, changed hands three times as Dave Branshaw had been passed the job and turned it over to his assistant Cory. Dave needed go so that Ski Hill could be saved. Branshaw is the Ski Hill manager with ceaseless energy and used to working with snow crews. He was determined to get the Hill up and running even though the chairs and cables were buried up at Top Station. Everyday he reported by email to the community on the status of Cordova’s favorite playground. “We shoveled our boots off everyday,” said a woman in the high school area who declined to be identified because of modesty. “Our neighbors came together. A lot of people were gone. After we caught up with our stuff we moved on to next door. Mike Mahoney was shoveling off the school. The high school music room is still un-shoveled. Robert Beedle was out here on his little tractor and plowed out Carlos’ car. JR’s road was just recently plowed out and that’s the radio station.” Historical buildings and homes were saved by volunteers and elders were looked after. Debra Adams and Annette Janka shoveled off The Red Dragon. Traci Nuzzi and Kim Menster cleared the Rev. Belle Michelson’s house while Marv and Mazie Van den Broek’s log cabin was cleared by Beth Poole and her friend Jordon. “Beth was straddling the peak and shoveling to beat the band,” said Kim Menster. The Coast Guard was supposed to be deployed on Nav-Aid around Prince William Sound but instead, they shoveled the harbor finger docks, then were sent on missions to places like Whitshed Road. Old soldiers were reborn again. After he dealt with his own porch collapse. Kelly Weaverling responded to need in the Old High School neighborhood and picked up a roving team of shovelers along the way. A week later they are still working clearing the elementary gymnasium roof using handsaws and a chainsaw to cut blocks of cemented ice-snow.
Carolyn, so good to hear your voice. What an experience !! Thanx for this report. Great coverage overall from Cordova. Best wishes. nem |
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