What do we do now?



(River has taken 300 plus feet in just under a year and two heavy rain storms. Orange dots mark current top of bank.)

We received a pretty clear warning from the Sauk River last November.  An approximate 100 plus by 700 feet of land disappeared in the night.  We received  another pretty clear warning from personnel of Snohomish County, “highly erodible soil.” We received more warning from Army Corps of Engineers that our property would continue to erode. 

We could not sleep at night when it was raining. Echoes of hearing, “parts in bag,” from the  scanner during the Oso disaster fresh in our minds. The parents of three, two of whom under the age of 4;  How do we keep our two small girls and teen safe from frigid rushing waters, mud, and current?  We seek safety and go into financial ruin.

That was suppose to be our “raise the family in” home.

What has Snohomish county done for us?  They allowed us to build in a Critical Area they knew a new ordinance would not allow a few months after.  They never sent documents after the fact to warn us we were in a Channel Migrations Zone or that we were on "highly erodible soil.” They got all their building permit fees and taxes paid for 7 plus years.  They have continued to receive tax money from our bank for the current year.

Over the weekend, the first real rain storm since the first event, The Sauk took another approximate 100  by 700 foot piece of land. Looking at about 300 total.  Some more going in during small rains during the year.  The well to the house is now unusable and on the current bank of the river.  The house is now just over 100 feet from the current main Sauk River Channel.

We were smart and sought safety.  We are physically safe, but far from Financially secure.  We feel emotionally abused by the enormity of the mighty County that is too stubborn to help and an un-sympathetic Bank.

 

What is Snohomish county doing for us?  Put us on some “maybe” list for FEMA funding.

What is our bank doing for us?  Seeking the remainder of our mortgage.

What is Pierce County doing in a similar Critical Area Channel Migration Zone.  BUYING A WHOLE NEIGBORHOOD OUT.