Don’t forget who helped during region’s floods

Just when we thought the worst of the snow was past…the rain started coming down.

And it continued coming down, in buckets.

In a matter of days, Western Washington went from looking like the arctic to the canals of Venice – minus the gondolas. Across the state, emergency-service workers were put to the test, evacuating whole towns as well as rescuing residents and their pets who weren’t quick enough to escape the rushing flood waters. These workers were tireless in their efforts, and I am certain there is no way a single newspaper could cover the many examples of heroism these organizations proffered.

Among them were the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Guard, the American Red Cross, and many local emergency organizations, including our own Kent police and fire workers. If you see people from these organizations in your own town, stop and shake their hands. They deserve all the kudos they can get.

And if you did encounter help from these and other organizations, take a minute to draft a letter of thanks.. We are happy to publish these testimonies on our pages.

Given all that, Kent got by relatively unscathed.

Short of roads that had to be closed, the worst residents here appeared to suffer were sopping yards, and traffic tie-ups as drivers sought alternate routes to get around floodwater. Our Riverbend Golf Course has taken a hit, although it’s uncertain what repair costs will be.

While most of us here in Kent can sit back and watch the damage on television, as opposed to looking out our front windows, let’s also remember those people who aren’t so lucky. The cities of Pacific, Renton and Maple Valley in King County were especially hard hit. And on a state level, Lewis County continues to grapple with dire flood damage.

If you want to help people affected in these areas, don’t hesitate to contact your Red Cross. These people are the ones who put up the shelters, and who are there to help in other disasters as well – including house fires. To learn more about assisting the Red Cross, just get online to www.seattleredcross.org.