Recovery group forms to assist flood victims

In the wake of February’s flooding event, the Blue Mountain Long-Term Recovery Group (BMLTRG), a multi-state, multi-county organization, has been formed to reflect the structure of similar long-term disaster recovery groups across the nation.

The new group will continue the work taken on by multiple community groups in our region including the Waitsburg Flood Mitigation Group.

BMLTRG’s Executive Committee is co-chaired by Christy Lieuallen from the United Way of the Blue Mountains and David Reinholz from The Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO). The co-chairs will manage administrative functions and other oversight.

The United Way of the Blue Mountains and CAPECO will also serve as the Washington and Oregon fiscal partners for the new group. 

Joy Smith has been named as the Waitsburg/Dayton disaster case manager (DCM), and she has contacted many of the flood survivors previously, but recent work by the group has revealed that there are people affected by the flood who have unmet needs.

Smith has identified 30 people with unmet needs due to lack of insurance, gaps in insurance, the barrier of high insurance deductibles. The BMLTRG is primarily concerned with addressing lack of housing and/or unstable housing at this time.

Those in need should contact Smith directly at waitsburgcc@icloud.com or by phone at (509) 539-8773. People who wish to report someone who was impacted are also encouraged to reach out. Flood assistance can only be offered to those who reach out for help, so give Joy Smith a call.

Fundraising for this ongoing effort is underway through the United Way of the Blue Mountains. They have created a donation page to accept help for our local families with ongoing needs. Visit the site at: https://www.uwbluemt.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=99.