THEFLOOD OF DECEMBER 2014 50YEARS 19 6 4$1.00 LATER Readers share their memories of the fl ood

Pulled from chaos: Rescue missions in river valleys

Lives lost: Remembering the 29 who died Humboldt

2 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 remembers The ‘Thousand Year Flood’ 50 years later: Commemorating the Christmas flood of 1964

BY CLAY MCGLAUGHLIN by warm rains that melt- cessively lower latitudes ranges oriented at nearly [email protected] @CMcGlaughlinTS on Twitter ed the snow and inundat- before turning to the right angles to the flow ed local watersheds in a northeast and moving of the air resulted in This December marks matter of hours. towards the west coast. heavy rain from Dec. 21 the 50th anniversary “Prior to the main A storm track 500 miles to 23. Today we use the of the “Thousand Year storm period, Dec. 19 wide extending from term ‘Atmospheric River’ Flood” in Northern Cali- through 25, minor rain near Hawaii to to describe this type of fornia, which officially events of November into and northern weather phenomenon. … began on Dec. 21, 1964 — early December had sat- was established,” wrote A high pressure system reaching its peak on Dec. urated the ground and Reginald Kennedy, ser- built into the area north- 23 of that year and con- increased the flow in vice hydrologist at the east of Hawaii on Dec. tinued until early Janu- the local rivers. In mid- Eureka station of the 24 and cut off the flow ary 1965. Striking nine December, a strong high National Oceanic and At- of warm moist air to the years almost to the day pressure system was lo- mospheric Administra- west coast. The weather after a 1955 flood that cated between Hawaii tion/National Weather pattern then changed was called “the disaster of and Alaska. … Around Service. drastically as snow fell in the century,” the ’64 flood Dec. 19, the high pressure “The combination of the mountains with rain was caused by a deadly system weakened, allow- this very moist warm air, and hail at the lower el- combination of weather ing follow-on weather strong west-southwest evations and along the events that dumped mas- systems to move across winds, and orographic coast.” sive amounts of snow in the Pacific Ocean at suc- lift of the mountain According to Kenne- the mountains, followed

Terry, Billy, Lena and Julie McCovey look out over the Bridge while their parents wait nearby.

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 3 dy’s research, during peak Reports from the past when the flood struck, stressful situation.” precipitation Whiskey- A 1965 report titled stranding her family in a Hayes said that after town Reservoir and Rich- “Flood!” by Hugo Fisher Ferndale Victorian, where her family was rescued ardson Grove State Park and William Warne of they and the neighbors and safely on dry ground, reported more than 11 the Department of Wa- — who had come to seek many Fortuna residents, inches of rain in 24 hours. ter Resources describes shelter — continued mov- some of whom they didn’t A total of 15 inches was the event rather poeti- ing upstairs to avoid the even know, donated cloth- reported at Ettersburg, 22 cally: “With quickening rising waters. ing and Christmas gifts to inches at Standish-Hickey pace the rivulets of water “It’s funny how people her family and others. State Park, and 17 inches stream down the slopes come together in times “Most of all the selfless at Gasquet. of the mountains of the of need and do extraor- volunteerism of every- The flood cut a huge Coast Range and Sierra dinary things,” she wrote one from Law Enforce- swath of destruction to swell into wild angry to the Times-Standard. ment, Civil Defense, Coast across the North Coast, rivers. Combining forces, “In our case, my family Guard Staff, Red Cross at killing 29, causing mil- these raging torrents and our neighbors fam- times of extreme person- lions in damage and cut- surge through the foothill ily worked together to al risk can’t be stressed ting off entire commu- areas and sweep relent- round up all the cattle enough,” she said. “Those nities from the outside lessly into the vulnerable in the area to get them of us that survived owe world for months. valleys below.” to high ground when the them a tremendous debt “I (saw) lots of acts of The California Depart- water was rising so that of gratitude.” heroism during that time. ment of Parks and Recre- they would at least have Thirty-four counties in Everybody was a hero ation described the flood a chance at survival. My California were declared back then,” said Jerry as “the ‘greatest natural father (John Miranda) disaster areas, though Hansen, 71, of Grizzly disaster’ ever experienced and Mr. George Toste Humboldt, Del Norte, Bluff. His father, dairy- by the our neighbor took our Mendocino, Siskiyou, On the man Arnold “Bud” Han- states. … The Eel, Smith, plywood boat (at great Trinity and Sonoma coun- sen of Ferndale, was a vol- Klamath, Trinity, Salm- personal risk) out of the ties suffered more dam- cover unteer spotter on one of on and Mad rivers were shed and braved the ris- age than all the others RIO DELL On Christmas the U.S. Coast Guard he- all long past flood stage ing flood waters to bring put together. Flooding oc- Eve morning ,1964, the licopters commissioned that day and the next. his family and his hired curred from Yosemite Val- rampaging had to rescue people stranded ’s hand’s family to our loca- ley in the south to ripped apart the Paul in the Eel River bottoms Humboldt, Del Norte, tion because they thought in the east and Washing- Mudgett Bridge at Rio Dell. area. The aircraft crashed it would be safer. All of ton in the north. Every At lower left is the Eel River Mendocino, Siskiyou, Sawmills log deck. on Dec. 22 in the stormy Trinity and Sonoma coun- the food and supplies in river in Oregon hit flood darkness after a day of ties experienced record our house became com- stage as the deluge gained flying people from their water levels for the 20th munity property .. .and strength. flooded homes to safer century. … Floodwaters, while she was still able By Dec. 23, the water ground. laden with jammed logs (before the rising flood level had risen 46 feet “My dad was a hero,” and houses ripped from water prevented her higher than usual in Mi- Hansen said in a recent their foundations, roared from cooking) my mother randa, completely engulf- phone interview, “but across at least 16 highway cooked meals for every- ing the village. The towns there were lots of heroes bridges, destroying them one in the house. At that of Crescent City, Fern- that also survived the ’64 all and leaving residents point, we were all just one bridge, Holmes, Klam- flood. Everybody pitched isolated for months.” big family trying to get ath, Myers Flat, Orleans, in.” Kathy Hayes was 12 through an enormously Paradise, Pepperwood, CONTI’S AUTO REPAIR FULL SERVICE SHOP 707-443-3505 BRAKE & SUSPENSION SERVICE SPECIAL 930 6th Street, Eureka Paula Patton Publisher Times-Standard.com Trina Alger Advertising Director Kim Wear Editor 25% OFF on Parts Phone (707) 441-0500 (On most Cars, Suv’s and Light Trucks) Rory Hubbard Layout Free Brake or Suspension Inspection and Estimates “Enterprising Women in Business” is distributed to subscribers of the Times-Standard at no additional Call for an Appointment charge, and is available to purchase for $1.00. All advertising herein is the responsibility of the advertiser. The At Renner Station on Harris St. Times-Standard retains the publication rights to all content produced or supplied by the Times Standard. Quality Service At A Fair Price Use of said material without the written consent of the Times-Standard is prohibited. Copyright © 2014. 4 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 Redcrest, Scotia, Shively, … Finally, on Jan. 6, resi- South Fork, Stafford, Ti- dents of the northwest Bar and Weott all suffered area were able to relax a major damage, and sev- moment to look back — eral were never rebuilt. and ahead — as the riv- Estimates of the finan- ers began to fall and the cial losses on the North weather forecast for only Coast topped $175 mil- scattered showers dimin- lion. ished the threat of re- ‘Complete havoc’ newed floods.” As the waters slowly re- In the aftermath of ceded, they left “complete the flood, the Humboldt havoc” in their wake, ac- Beacon reported a death cording to Fisher and toll of 29 people, with Warne. almost 1,700 injured. At “On many swollen least 4,784 homes, 374 streams in the North businesses and 800 farm Coast, walls of water tore buildings were destroyed, down highway and rail- according to compiled re- road bridges, overturned ports from the Statewide autos, smashed houses Flood Management Plan- and farm buildings, and ning Program. About 80 swept away entire villag- percent of the county road es. … Virtually the whole systems sustained major region from Scotia to damage, further complicat- Crescent City was isolat- ing recovery efforts. ed as the rampaging Eel, “Because of lack of Mad and Klamath riv- transportation for logs ers and Redwood Creek and cut lumber, 4,000 made U.S. Route 101 im- workers are without jobs, weeks later that she was where. When we flew into 1,000 years, lesser events improvements in tech- passable.” and an additional 8,000 able to get south and see McKinleyville. It was ab- still have the capacity for nology, atmospheric and They write that “(a) workers will be affected what happened in Hum- solutely wild looking ... tremendous damage. hydrologic models, and s the grim task of clean- as more than half the boldt County. It was impressive when The Statewide Flood communication capabili- ing up the flood-stricken lumber mills face closure. “While the flood was we got around here, the Management Planning ties. Weather satellites, areas started, the death … Also hard hit was the huge here, it covered Or- amount of logs, lumber Program estimates that still experimental in 1964, toll began to rise. Rescue dairy and livestock indus- egon as well. You could and other stuff all over “(t)oday, more than 7 mil- have significantly im- workers used helicopters try. Five thousand head of not get north or south the beaches.” lion Californians, or one proved weather forecasts. to probe the slowly re- livestock were lost, thirty- from Eugene on I-5,” she A recurring pattern? in five, live in the 500-year There have been signifi- ceding rivers for victims five hundred of which said. “When that started According to the De- floodplain, and approxi- cant improvements in im- and survivors. Hundreds were cows and calves. to recede and the airport partment of Parks and mately $580 billion in agery quality and sensor of persons had been Pasture land was awash became usable again, be- Recreation, “Tree-ring assets (crops, structures, capabilities. Over the past stranded for days with- with mud and debris. Pro- cause it’d had water on it, reconstruction in the and public infrastructure) 50 years the improve- out food or shelter in the viding feed for the surviv- then my grandfather took Central Valley and sedi- are exposed to flooding. ments made in the atmo- flood-isolated valleys and ing cattle was a major pity on us poor young mentary core sampling in This estimate does not spheric and hydrological foothills of the Eel River problem, and sixty tons of ‘uns who were supposed the Santa Barbara Basin include the impacts of fu- models has increased the Canyon. Fog, rain, snow, hay and grain were flown to come down here. … show cyclical evidence of ture development, popu- skill of these models,” and winds frustrated to the area for the starv- We were having a family severe droughts followed lation changes, climate Kennedy wrote. “Though rescue efforts for areas ing cattle,” the authors of reunion. In time for New by ‘megafloods’ in Califor- change, or costs due to a flood similar to 1964 can which could be reached “Flood!” wrote. Years, it finally opened nia about every 200 years. loss of major infrastruc- occur again, the result of only by air and prolonged Catherine Mace, vice up where he (her grand- The scientists studying ture and critical facilities, improved technology will the misery of flood dam- president of the Hum- father) could drive up to these patterns link flood- as well as losses to State provide more time for age. As rescue operations boldt County Histori- Blue Lake, back on the ing to the 208-year Suess commerce.” planning and taking nec- swung into full scale, an- cal Society, was a young North Bank Road and Cycle of solar activity; Fortunately, improve- essary actions to mitigate other storm whipped into mother living with her up to the airport to pick some think that we may ments in technology the impacts from damag- Northern California with husband in Eugene, Ore., up us, so he got an air- expect another lengthy should give current resi- ing floods.” rains, snow, and hurri- when the flood hit. Her plane ticket and we flew and costly flood in the dents more warning The full “Flood!” report cane gusts of wind. Rising grandparents were host- into Eureka for the flood. first half of this century.” when flood conditions de- from Fisher and Warne is rivers again forced an es- ing a family reunion for It was amazing to see Even if future events don’t velop in the future. available at http://tinyurl. timated 1,300 persons to Christmas 1964 but it the logs on the beaches. match the magnitude of “Since the Flood of com/18r. flee for the second time. wasn’t until nearly two There was water every- the 1964 flood for another 1964, there have been Contact Clay McGlaughlin at 441-0516. www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 5 ‘We did not think

We were a family of 10 in two boats struggled dale. It was a fright- see another flood like they were doing. (Tony and Gerry Leon- for hours against the ening ride as the truck “55” and just in case I remember hearing ardo, their four chil- swirling current, dodg- lurched and tilted as this house would be well Dad say, “The water is dren Ginger, 14; Tony, ing logs and other de- it encountered missing up out of the water. So rising faster than I’ve 10; Rich, 8; and Tina, bris to rescue us. One pavement beneath the wa- much for that theory. ever seen it and we are 6; John and Lily Nunes; of the boats with part ter. But at last we were Whenever the river had trapped. Get every- their daughter Weed- of the family nearly safe and warm and well come up since 1955 mom one else out as fast as ie, 12; and hired man, capsized as it tried to fed at the home of our took us out as the wa- you can.” The men went Manuel Gonsalves) sit- bring us to safety. The friends Tony and Mar- ter would come through to put the cows in the ting on two pieces of boats took us as far as guerite Martin where we a dip in the lane and big barn which was the plywood in the attic of they could and when in stayed for quite awhile. we’d be trapped. Every highest spot and we hur- our home while the Eel shallow water I remem- We also went through time she’d be teased so riedly cooked while we River swirled around ber being lifted out the 1955 flood at the this year she figured it still had power. Our us and roared in our and set into the cold same place. Our two- would be no big deal so we house was decorated ears. Drift had built up dirty water but feel- story house sat flat on stayed in and trapped we for Christmas and there and was pushing in the ing so grateful as my the ground and the water were with the water over was a coffee table with kitchen wall. A log came feet touched the ground seeped into a corner of six feet higher reach- Christmas candles and through the window and beneath. We were taken the bathroom. This house ing the light switches. a net Christmas tree other logs battered and into a neighbor’s house burned to the ground on We had phone service for I made in Girl Scouts. shook the house. We did and from there into the July 4, 1958 and the awhile even after the At this point the wa- not think we would sur- back of a dump truck landlord built a new water surrounded us and ter was all around the vive! But on Christmas that picked up others one three feet higher as CJ Hindley was our life- house and was starting Eve some very brave men along the way to Fern- they said we would never line advising us of what to seep under the door.

1964 2014 We Salute the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard. Thank you! Eureka 707-445-4500 mingtree.com Fortuna 707-725-7500

6 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 we would survive!’

Mom was listening to a a nail! Mom said, “What his whisper wasn’t much those who reached out to transistor radio and the the hell are you think- quieter. This must have lend a hand in whatever weather man was saying ing, Tony? These kids been so heartbreaking way necessary to help us the water was receding are starving!” Dad whis- for them because then we recover. We might not so my mom had my Aunt Lily and I sweeping the water out the front door as it sloshed in. All of a sudden the living room floor warped, bubbling up in the middle which caused the coffee table to tip spilling all the Christmas decorations. Mom started screaming for Dad to get my sister (who was only 6 and con- fined to a wheel chair due to cerebral palsy) and the rest of us up into the attic. We hadn’t planned for this — who knew the ter- ror that lay ahead. Be- fore we went up we had watched the vehicles float away and the horse barn go down. So Dad and Uncle John chopped a hole in the roof and tossed the things aside that had been stored on the two pieces of ply- wood which became our seat/beds for the du- ration. Dad and Uncle John kept looking out hoping to see someone coming for us I guess. Then when Uncle John looked out and in the moonlight saw his home, his garage, his barn and pered, “Gerry, that’s began to cry, saying we have had a lot of luck tractor shed all gone he all I could get. It was didn’t want to die. Mom when it came to material FERNDALE The Tony stumbled and fell split- sitting on the counter. kept reassuring us that losses due to floods and Leonardo and John Nunes ting his eye on a raf- The drift is as high as God would watch out for fire but we certainly families survived for two ter as his body pushed the roof, the wall is us and we wouldn’t die. were blessed in the fam- and a half days in the through the sheetrock. bulging and I was afraid And Mom was right; ily and friends depart- attic of Leonardo’s Grizzly At some point Mom told if I opened the cupboard here we are 50 years ment and being able to Bluff home. They were all Dad he had to go down and the whole wall would come later to tell the story grow up in a community rescued Christmas Day. get us something to eat. in. I don’t think we are and be grateful for our that reaches out to help He returned with a can going to make it!” Dad survival, for our fam- whenever there is a need. of fruit cocktail and always talked loud and ily, friends and all — Ginger Nunes, Fortuna

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 7 Flood victims remembered Twenty-nine people died on the North Coast during the 1964 disaster

BY HEATHER SHELTON that ravaged the North Coast 50 years [email protected] The Times-Standard ago. “This is a monumental anniversary. he numbers are staggering. People need to remember it. If you look The December 1964 flood – at the valley now and look at the river, Twhich devastated Humboldt and you would think it couldn’t happen … Del Norte counties during the height of but it did,” said Jerry Hansen, 71, in a the holiday season — caused more than recent phone interview. Hansen has $190 million in damage to the North lived in the Ferndale area most of his Coast region, according to “California life. His father, dairyman Arnold “Bud” High Water 1964-1965,” a publication Hansen, was one of the people who put out in 1966 by the California De- died locally during the 1964 disaster. partment of Water Resources. Approxi- In observance of the 50th anniversa- mately 7,900 families suffered losses in ry of the flood that took so much from the region. Some 2,400 residences, 400 so many, the Times-Standard takes a small businesses and more than 1,100 look back at the people who were killed farm buildings were destroyed or heav- trying to escape the rising waters, in ily damaged. An estimated 8,400 head the midst of helping other people to of cattle were killed. safety or just trying to live their lives in But, it’s the number 29 that remains a difficult time. the most devastating statistic to come These vignettes were derived from out of the ’64 flood. Twenty-nine is the poring through back issues of the number of people who died during the Humboldt Times, Humboldt Stan- torrential storms and ensuing floods

8 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 dard — dating from Dec. staying at the auto court 21, 1964, through Jan. … But, my wife was hor- 31,1965 — and a few ror-stricken. I told her to military publications. stay with me in the boat, We were able to come but she just wouldn’t do up with 28 names in lo- it. When I finally got the cal papers, with the 29th two men, the water had victim reported as an come up too much and I “unidentified woman, couldn’t row against the drowned in the Eel Riv- current. I told the sher- er” in media accounts. iff’s office at 2 o’clock in the afternoon that Orleans Photo courtesy of David Nininger Wells there was only about two John Butler, who was James Nininger Jr., pictured in an undated U.S. Coast Guard or three hours to save either 50 or 62 depend- photo, died Dec. 22, 1964, in a helicopter crash near Trinidad dur- them (his wife and the ing on which newspaper ing flood relief efforts. others still at the auto account one reads, lived court). But, there was no in Orleans. He was lost Photo courtesy of the Hansen family way. The helicopter was in the storm-swollen Arnold “Bud” Hansen, who was killed in a helicopter crash during someplace else. … The Klamath River on Dec. the December 1964 flood, is shown here in a 1957 photo. A long- water went over the top 22 when a section of time dairyman, Hansen had volunteered as a spotter on the Coast of that two-story build- Red Cap Road collapsed Guard helicopter that went down in the storm. ing. My wife and the four under his Jeep. But- others drowned.” ler drowned as he was Florence Porter had trying to reach higher recovered on Jan 22, written Kelley) Brueck, three children, nine ground. 1965 — was in her 40s. had taken refuge as the grandchildren and four The bodies of Main, who flood stage reached as great-grandchildren. Willow Creek was about 45, and Flock- high as 35 feet in down- She was a collector for Charles Flockhart, hart, in his mid-50s, had town Pepperwood. the Red Cross in Pep- Louis Main (also writ- not yet been recovered Porter’s husband, Al- perwood and a charter ten as Maines in local by the end of January bert Porter, 78, talked to member of the Pepper- papers) and Sara Cash 1965. a reporter at the Hum- wood PTA. A native of were presumably killed boldt Standard about Beatrice, she had lived when a log jam damming Pepperwood his wife’s tragic death in in Pepperwood with her up a gulch broke and Florence Porter, 70, a December 1964 Hum- family since 1929. Les- swept down a hill onto of Pepperwood died on boldt Standard article. lie “Les” Brueck, 57, and a small group of homes Dec.23 when raging wa- He said: “She would his wife Regina, 62, were five miles west of Willow ters swept through the have been all right if she originally from Kansas Creek. The three – who top floor of the two-story had stayed with me in and had moved to Pep- were last seen Dec. 21 Tower Auto Court, where the boat while I rescued perwood in 1953. They – had reportedly taken she and four others – Ale- those others. There was ran a tavern there called refuge in Cash’s house tha Van Noy, Leslie and two men I took out in the the Friendly Corner trailer during the storm. Regina Brueck and the early morning Wednes- Club. Leslie Brueck had Cash — whose body was Bruecks’ son, Kelly (also day (Dec. 23). They were been actively involved

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 9 in rescue work in Hum- Near Trinidad and Big Lagoon during Bud Hansen had six who had been rescued boldt County during the Arnold “Bud” Han- flood relief efforts. kids. His wife, Beverly, by the men on the copter 1955 flood. The couple’s sen, Bette Kempf (writ- Bud Hansen, 44, was a was pregnant with the shortly before the craft 40-year-old son, Kelly, ten in some accounts as longtime Ferndale dairy- couple’s seventh child went down, was the wife was disabled and lived Betty), her 20-month- man. He boarded the when her husband died. of Fred Bahnsen of Fern- with the couple. old daughter, Melanie craft earlier that day as Jerry Hansen said his dale and had one grown Aletha Van Noy, who Kempf, and Marie Bahn- a volunteer spotter to sister, Julia, was born daughter. She was the also lived in Pepper- sen, all of the Ferndale help the servicemen – in March 1965, three organist at St. Mark’s Lu- wood, was 56 years old. area, were killed along all from out of the area months after his father’s theran Church in Fern- While the other four with U.S. Coast Guard – with rescue operations. death. dale. bodies were reportedly pilot Lt. Donald Prince, “He’d do anything for “My dad was the great- Bette Kempf, 35, was recovered clustered to- co-pilot Sub. Lt. Allen a neighbor,” said Bud est guy that ever lived. married to David Kempf gether inside the auto Alltree and Coast Guard Hansen’s son, Jerry Han- He loved life,” said Jerry of Ferndale. The couple court, Van Noy’s body Aviation Electrician 2 sen, who was 21 when Hansen, who took over had a daughter, toddler had not yet been found James Nininger Jr. when his father died. “He his father’s dairy after he Melanie Rae, who also by the end of January a Coast Guard helicopter liked everybody. He was died. He lived in his par- died in the crash. Bette 1965. It’s presumed she crashed Dec. 22 in heavy small, only 5-foot-5 and ents’ home and ran the Kempf was a member drowned in the Eel River. timber several miles in- 180 pounds, but he was dairy until 1972. of Our Savior’s Lutheran land between Trinidad stronger than a bull.” Marie Bahnsen, 58, Church in Ferndale.

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(707) 822-5971 985 G STREET Arcata coldwellbankersellersrealty.com Corner of 10th & G 10 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 Coast Guard helicopter Alltree, 23, was a Royal Chevrolet pickup washed Henderson Center Ki- families and rebuilding pilot Lt. Donald Prince Canadian Navy pilot. up on a river bar. Their wanis, Masonic Lodge and repairing homes in lived in San Mateo with The Canadian aviator bodies were not found and Eureka Toastmas- Happy Camp at the time his wife, Dottie, and two was serving with the U.S. as of the end of January ters. of his death. Gillis had daughters. He was based Coast Guard in a pilot 1965. Their tombstones 1st Lt. William Ar- been with the Red Cross at the Coast Guard Air exchange program. are at the Harris Cem- bogast, 26, was from since 1954 and took part Station James “Jimmy” etery. Santa Ana. He received in disaster relief on the and volunteered for the Nininger Jr., of South a posthumous Navy and North Coast after the Humboldt County rescue San Francisco was a McCann Marine Corps Medal for 1955 flood. mission because, as an U.S. Coast Guard avia- Ervin “Bunny” Had- “heroism at the risk of avid fly fisherman, he’d tion electrician. In 2011, ley of Eureka and three life while participating Ruth been to the area on sev- his son, David Nininger servicemen, including in aerial flight.” Donald Bridge, owner eral occasions and loved Wells, who was just 6 Marines 1st Lt. William Corp. Joseph Binkley of the AA Ranch, and Lee the region. Prince was months old when his Arbogast and crew chief was 23 years old and re- (or Ele) Duncan, who awarded the Air Medal father died, established Corp. Joseph Binkley sided in Torrance. was Bridge’s hired hand, posthumously for the the USCG 1363 Memorial (also written as Kingley, Navy Photographer’s died in a snowstorm work he did rescuing Scholarship at Humboldt Kinkley or Brinkley in Mate 1-C Alonzo Slaugh- when a toppling tree stranded citizens during State University in his fa- local media) and Navy ter, 31, of Long Beach crushed the Jeep pickup the flood. Sub. Lt. Allen ther’s memory. Photographer’s Mate 1-C was originally from Kan- truck they were driving “The scholarship is a Alonzo Slaughter all died sas City, Kan. on the ranch outside of small gesture of remem- when the helicopter they Ruth. brance, which I intend to were in went down on Orick Crescent City continue as long as I am Dec. 26 in a deep section Nine-year-old Yvonne Howard Carter Jr. of financially able to do so,” of the Eel River at Mc- Cavan of Orick was killed Crescent City died after Wells wrote in a Times- Cann – 52 miles south of instantly on Jan 1, 1965, the Caterpillar tractor Standard “My Word” in Eureka. The men were when a dump truck do- he was operating while December 2011. on photographic mission ing flood relief work ac- doing rescue work in to the Southern Hum- cidentally struck her on the Big Flat area on Dec. Dinsmore boldt area. U.S. Highway 101, just 25 was buried beneath Ruth Brawley, 60, and Ervin Hadley, 50, was north of Orick. Yvonne’s a mudslide. Carter was her son, Lee Smalley, 23, the owner of the Flash parents, Mr. And Mrs. married with three chil- both of Santa Rosa, had Electric Company in Eu- James Cavan, lost their dren. He was employed left the store reka and commander of trailer house and all as an equipment opera- in the Ruth area of Trin- the local Civil Air Patrol. their belongings in the tor for Del Norte County ity County at 7 a.m. Dec. The former county su- flood the week prior to Road Department and 22 in a white truck, ac- pervisor had also been their child’s death. was a Korean War veter- cording to the Humboldt a noted athlete. He and an. He was 32 years old. Standard. They were try- his wife, Marguerite, Happy Camp Happy Camp ing to reach Harris in had one daughter and Red Cross worker Paul Robert Edmunds, 47, Southern Humboldt via two grandchildren. Had- Gillis, 40, of Tarzana of Happy Camp was the Bridgeville. Reports say ley, who was an accom- was killed Jan. 1, 1965, last storm-related death they were swept away by plished pilot who had when he was struck by reported in local news- floodwaters when they flown dozens of search- helicopter blades while papers. His death was tried to drive through and-rescue missions over loading supplies on the blamed on “overexertion three to five feet of wa- the years, was a member aircraft in Happy Camp. and the rigors of flood ter flooding Dinsmore of the Aircraft Owners Gillis had arrived in the and storm condition.” Bridge. Some weeks after and Pilots Association. area on Dec. 30 to help A dentist by trade, Ed- they were reported miss- He was also a member of with relief work. He had munds died in his sleep ing, a section of their the Presbyterian Church, been feeding stranded on Jan. 15, 1965.

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 11 our truck. We had re- bors if they had room cently learned that we for us so the landlord’s were in be parents in kids and we were wel- June, so the first thing comed in for a long dark I saved was a pair of night. We did our best baby booties. We also to make it an “adven- packed some clothes ture,” but the kids were and a few important pa- scared as were we. Ev- pers. In the afternoon, ery so often, the men a neighbor came by and and older kids would asked Mike if he wanted go out to check what to ride with him to see was happening. When what was happening by they reported that the the bridge. Off he went. river was dropping and I kept an eye on the the rain letting up, we pasture, which was be- breathed a sign of re- coming a lake. I car- lief. We knew we’d have ried more stuff to the a lot of water damage to truck, and then more deal with, but the hous- and more. Mike didn’t es were OK. We finally return. When the wa- went to sleep thinking ter reached our garage, of the work we’d have to which was attached to do in the morning. the house but lower Of course, we woke than it, I must admit I up early and our first panicked. I got on the task was to check our phone and called my in- the damage. I don’t laws in Sebastopol. In think I can adequately a rather pitiful voice describe our reaction with a few tears mixed when we saw the dam- in, I told Mom that I age. After we’d gone to was at the house alone; bed, a landslide had ca- I didn’t know where Mike reened down the hill to was; and the water was nearly completely bury edging higher and high- our house. There was a We did our best to er. And, then, I looked creek running through down. The muddy water the broken picture win- suddenly burst through dow and out through the the little crack be- kitchen. Mud,rocks, make it an ‘adventure’ tween the floor and the broken branches filled wall. At that point, the the place to and above phone went dead. It is the rafters. not difficult to imag- In the hectic days I thought I was used and begun setting up our from any flooding. Af- ine the fear at both that followed, I remem- to floods. After all, first “real” home. We ter all, the freeway was ends of the line. ber sitting on a rock I grew up on the Rus- secured furniture from between our home and the At that point, Mike pile in the middle of sian River in Guernev- relatives and purchased river, a natural bar- arrived home. It turns the living area wash- ille and every winter new appliances. We were rier, so to speak. What out he’d been about 100 ing the dishes and pots we had a “flood.” Fortu- excited and happy. we failed to account for yards from the house and pans we dug out of nately, my family lived When the Christmas were the several large the entire time. They the kitchen. The lovely away from the river it- vacation arrived, we culverts between us and had stopped to help a antique couch and chair self, but we were of- were planning to head the river. Even though neighbor whose car had Mike’s grandmother had ten isolated when the south to Mike’s family we could almost see the plunged into a slip-out given us was totally de- flood backwater closed for Christmas festivi- river rise, we remained on the road, our sup- stroyed. The new washer, the road to town. I ties Although the vaca- relatively calm Satur- posed escape route. dryer, and refrigerator spent many chilly morn- tion began on Friday, we day morning. By noon, Realizing that we were were ruined. Christmas ings in a boat as my dad had to stick around for however, our landlords, trapped, we worked fe- presents were soggy or dutifully rowed me to one more night as Mike who also lived on the verishly to get more out buried or both. a place where I could was scheduled to be a property, seemed a bit of the house. We hoisted We spent Christmas catch the school bus. chaperone for the Sat- concerned. Then their some of the heavy piec- Eve with the Kluck fam- In 1964, my husband urday night Christmas two burros began to bray es up on the open beams ily in Miranda. They did Mike and I were first- formal. What a differ- excitedly. Muddy water in the living room. By their best to raise our year teachers at South ence a day makes! was spewing through late afternoon, we’d spirits. On Christmas Fork High and Miranda Friday night’s rain the culverts into their done all we could do, Day, we were able to get Junior High, respec- was torrential. Al- pasture. and prepared to spend to Garberville where tively. We had rented a though we lived along Mike and I decided it the night in our truck. phone service had been cute little unfurnished the South Fork, we felt might be a good idea to Our landlords asked restored. The Hoopes house near Salmon Creek we were pretty safe throw a few things in nearby, but dry, neigh- family offered to let

12 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 us use their phone so we into Miranda where we could let Mike’s family lived in one of the cab- know we were safe. To ins at the resort for say they were happy to a month. They provided hear from us is an un- us with boxes of food. derstatement. Art Volk- We were then lucky to erts, a family friend find a house to rent and editor of the Santa in Miranda near the Rosa Press Democrat, high school. Our little was planning on fly- flood house was bull- ing someone up on the dozed into oblivion. 26th to find us. Hap- Of course, the ruined pily, that flight could washer, dryer, and re- be scrapped. frigerator were bought While we were in Gar- on credit, but the mer- berville, we heard that chants from whom be a convoy was heading bought them arranged south over Bell Springs for us to get new ones. Road the next day. We We discover how much it quickly secured ap- really does pay to shop proval to be a part of locally! it. We were warned that Although we had not any vehicle that broke heard about it, the down would be pushed off California Teachers’ the road and that the Association established driving would be tough. a disaster fund to help Mike, another fellow teachers who lived in teacher, and I headed the flood zone. One south over rough roads morning, Mike asked me and through truck-high what I wanted from the snow banks. Several post office, I replied, cars were indeed left “A check for $1,000.” abandoned along the He excitedly returned a road. Oh, I forgot to few minutes later wav- mention our gaseous dog ing a CTA check for that was in the cab, too. It exact amount! was quite a cold jaunt When I look back on with the windows rolled that “adventure,” I am down much of the time. amazed that we remained In the weeks that fol- in Humboldt County and lowed that night on the at South Fork for the hill, we cleaned what rest of our careers, but we could. The Red Cross we did. The Northwestern Pacific Railroad yard at South Fork was a jumble of debris and overturned and displaced railroad cars. arranged for us to get — Shirley Foster, Ferndale An example of unusual cooperation

The 1964 storm was se- by the 1964 event. ent agencies involved held even on Christmas Dell was out, so there mining claim in Trinity vere. Humboldt County At the time, I was the in recovery and solving and New Year’s, and they was also a detour over County. The cabin was was isolated. Highways county counsel, and in problems would come to continued well into Jan- the Blue Slide Road. on upper Canyon Creek, 101 and 299, the rail- this role I attended the supervisors’ cham- uary. Emergencies some- This detour was neces- about 15 miles north of road and the Klamath meetings of the Board bers and exchange in- times bring out the best sary for a long time. To Junction City. The del- River bridge were out. of Supervisors. After formation and work out in people and institu- the north, a ferry be- uge took out the cabin Groceries and other sup- the flood, the supervi- solutions. Included tions, and this was an came the only means of and completely changed plies had to be brought sors held meetings each were the county depart- example of unusual co- crossing the Klamath the topography. Noth- in by air, as the Ar- day and they became the ment of public works, operation. River until a new bridge ing whatever of the im- cata airport was the nerve center for coordi- the state division of Ultimately a detour was constructed. High- provements remained ex- only link with the out- nation of recovery ac- highways, the sheriff, via the Bell Springs way 299 ultimately be- cept the outhouse, which side world. The storm tivity. At a specified the corps of engineers, road made access to and came passable. was on slightly higher and flooding in December time (I believe it was the highway patrol, the from the south possi- Turning to the east, ground. 1955, which I had also 10 o’clock in the morn- health department, the ble. However, the bridge and by way of a person- —Tom Montgomery, witnessed, was also se- ing), representatives news media and others. across the Eel River at al note, my wife and I Trinidad vere, but it was outdone from all of the differ- These meetings were the north end of Rio had a rustic cabin on a www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 13 time walk from there to Bridgeville, when we saw a Jeep pickup pull up on the other side. We waved, and the driver started picking his way across to us. I’ve long since forgotten his name, but turns out he’d driven from Bridgeville, and was trying this route to see if he could possibly get out. After a short discussion, we decided to walk back across with him, and catch a ride into Bridgeville — the roads from there were in surprisingly good shape. When we arrived there, people were certainly glad to see us, but were basically taking care of themselves, and were more worried about how people in the Eel River Valley were doing. Their basic message was “we’re used to this stuff — it could be a lot worse.” Dad caught a ride to the ‘People were seeing things no one fire station — which had been under several feet of water — while I tried could have imagined’ to accurately explain to people gathered at the During December 1964, with Dad and be a part of a blur of activity, tools, rations, water, store there how things I was home in Fortuna on things. amazement, disbelief, sleeping bags, and extra looked and how high the Christmas break of my One of the first and tragedy — as people winch cable. As we head- water had been in differ- first year at Humboldt things Dad did was to were seeing things no ed out, intending to try ent places. By the time — and as the rivers were get several winterized one could have imagined. to get in the “back way” our friend had hauled reaching and dramati- generators going—they When the water began to via Yager Creek, Dad’s us back to the logjam cally surpassing flood had been in service on recede, Dad started mak- statement to me was, “I crossing, it was dark, stage, the Department of lookouts and brought ing plans to try to get have no idea how this is and crossing the creek Forestry (CDF, now known in for the offseason. to Bridgeville — sev- going to go.” that way was more than as CalFire) became a key They were made avail- eral fire engines had Our progress was slow, just a little scary. As piece of the relief and able to people in need, been stored at the fire but steady — we had to cut we made our way back to- support effort — they had but especially dairies, station for the winter, out downed trees, winch ward Fortuna, there were power, fuel, equipment, grocery stores, restau- and no one knew if the our way through plac- slides and washouts that people, and radio and rants, and other places facility had even sur- es, and in some places hadn’t been there when microwave communication — that were accessible vived — a number of the leave the road complete- we came through early with the outside world. — that had been without Van Duzen bridges were ly — since there was no that morning, but with My dad was the equip- power for some time. One out, and there had been road. I’d seen my Dad Dad’s maneuvering and ment maintenance fore- of our special “mis- no telephone communica- do some amazing things the steady performance man for the Humboldt-Del sions” during this time tions with anyone in the with 4-wheel drive rigs, of our “muscle truck,” Norte Ranger Unit, and, was to haul a load of area since before the but none any more than we made it home safe- along with a number of blankets and other sup- serious flooding began. that day. We were mak- ly. I’ve thought a lot other employees, showed plies to Shively — via Since he had his pick ing good progress, when about that trip over the up without being asked the back roads, since of the fleet, he se- we came to the Yager years, and how a little to help wherever it was Highway 101 was impass- lected an International Creek crossing — which preparation, determina- needed. My sister and I able. We got there fine, dozer service rig — it was nonexistent. In its tion, skill, and a lot had been raised to get but I remember Dad say- wasn’t pretty, but it place was a massive log of luck got us there and involved and help people ing, “We need to get out was tough, heavy, and jam which was probably back. It was one of the in need—and since I was of here while we can.” had incredible ground over an acre in size. We more memorable experi- a “veteran” firefight- Turns out the road slid clearance. We filled the were debating the wis- ences I shared with my er with two whole sea- out just behind us — we diesel tank for weight, dom of making our way Dad — and there were a sons of experience (at later figured we made it put in as many Jeep cans across, but talked our- lot of them yet to come. Bridgeville), it was a by less than 15 minutes. of gas as we could car- selves out of it, since — Dale Gardner natural fit to hang out The next few days were ry, and loaded saws, we would have had a big

14 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 The flood through an 8-year-old’s eyes My first memory of it over Camp Creek from the 1964 flood was, why the Orleans side. We was Mrs. Slim Seward now had communication (Billie) at our home with Orleans. so early in the morn- Helicopters would ing? Got up to see land up at the log her watching her home landing to bring us and floating down the riv- our neighbors — who had er. Slim and Billie lost their homes — sup- were able to save some plies. Oh, how we hated things they had taken K-rations. Nothing we to the Brush Plant, but tried could change the it, too, flooded. Slim taste of powdered eggs. being the deputy stayed Hooray, finally C-ra- in Orleans. tions arrived. They We would take turns were gourmet in com- sitting in my dad’s parison. squad car listening to Once the foot bridge his radio to get infor- was put across Camp mation from the outside Creek, we would walk world. Orleans didn’t into Orleans for sup- have phones then, so plies. cake for my sister’s hour or so of TV. We SOUTH FORK A section of the Northwestern this was our only com- After awhile, a tem- 10th birthday. Grandpa would save drain water Pacific Railroad bridge at South Fork was swept munication. While in porary bridge was put knew some of the pilots for flushing the toilet. away during the flooding. Note the debris at the car one day with in and we could drive flying out of Murray Two of my cousins, Ava lower left and on the remaining bridge spans. my mom, Mary Barnes, into Orleans to the Field, and even though and Lisa Ireland, were I looked over across airstrip, partly for it was against regula- stranded in Orleans the field into the tree supplies and partly for tions and it was out of with us. When things line and there he was, entertainment to watch the pilots’ area, Deb- calmed down, they were my cat “Smokey,” who the big planes and he- bie’s birthday cake flown home to Fortuna had been missing for licopters land and take arrived. Wonder what in a helicopter flown several months. Mom got off on our tiny little their conversation was by Ron (Butch) Roland. out and walked through strip. about for this to be The Orleans School the snow and retrieved One day while at the able to happen. had burned down and so my cat. As an 8-year- air strip, a helicopter For weeks we had no when the time came, we old, you can only imag- landed. The pilot got running water, nine started back to school ine how thrilled I was. out with a pink bakery people living in our at the 7th Day Adventist Communications got box looking for my dad. home and one bathroom. School, where my sister a little easier after Mind you this was the We had a little gen- and I remained until we my dad (Lou Barnes) got only thing on the air- erator that still runs moved to Southern Hum- someone to tie a walk- craft. My grandparents today for a few short boldt a year later. ie-talkie to the end of Walter and Effie Barnes hours of power for the — Laurie Barnes Moulton a fishing line and cast had sent a birthday refrigerator and an of Eugene, Oregon Trinidad ‘an island of isolation during the storm’ I spent the ’64 flood supplies had to be he- Arcata. It may be hard supports, and it was dragged many of the Rankin, whose father’s living with my family licoptered in. We were to believe — seeing closed. fishing boats’ moor- crab boat didn’t come in the big red house also without power the low water level of Cooking on camp ings out of the har- in on time in Eureka. in Trinidad. It was an for several weeks. I today — but the river stoves and doing ev- bor, where they were Waiting on Christmas island of isolation was a junior in high level was close to the erything by candle- smashed against Trini- Eve was rough! We lat- during the storm. Both school and remember bottom of the bridge, light got old fast — we dad Head by 20- to 30- er learned it had over- the Mad River Bridge rushing over the Mad and after we made it were lucky to have a foot waves. Our boat turned on the bar, but to the south and the River Bridge with my back across, the con- fireplace for warmth. — Chinook — was one of they survived thanks Klamath Bridge to the sister for last-minute stant battering of gi- The large swells and them. But it was worse to the Coasties! north were out, so any Christmas shopping in ant logs disabled the rip current in the bay for my best friend Mary — Kathryn Johnson

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 15 MARINE PILOT AND KIDS Lt. John Ray from Jasper, Ala., a Marine helicopter pilot from the aircraft carrier USS Bennington looks at what Susan Wil- liams, 7, packed for her doll while waiting to be rescued at Stafford Sunday, Dec 27, 1964. At right is her brother David, 4. The two youngsters were from a family of 14 safely rescued. The carrier with its helicopters was stationed several miles off the mouth of .

16 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 The story of Bahamas ‘Out in the harbor, a lone steer bawled loudly’

December, 1964. I about three times a city in which I would was on a Greyhound bus, year, I would sleep as eventually settle with heading home to Cres- much as possible, stare my husband and daugh- cent City for Christ- at the beautiful scen- ters — stands out in my mas break. My journey ery passing by, get off memory. started in a small bus the bus to stretch at I loved it that my CRESCENT CITY On Christmas Day, 1964 logs, drift and trash piled up at Crescent City Harbor. depot in Stockton. I was the lengthier stops and dad was always wait- Much of the debris came from logging and lumber company operations on the Rogue, Smith and a junior at the Univer- concentrate on not get- ing for me at the Cres- Klamath Rivers and other coastal streams. sity of the Pacific in ting motion sickness. cent City bus depot. Stockton. Next stop: San It would help if I could There were, of course, Francisco Greyhound bus sit near the front of no cell phones in those depot — a scary place the bus and not have days; but he made sure mer homes … these were — men inched across the ple — some of whom lost for anyone, especially a seat mate; but that to check posted sched- long-established resi- incredibly solid, but their lives — coming to a naïve 20 year-old from didn’t always happen. ules and out-wait inev- dences and places of ever-shifting, cover the aid of others. a tiny, isolated commu- The further north we itable delays. Home! It livelihood. Gone. Whole until they reached the It’s January, 1965. nity on the northwest got on that December, felt so good to be there villages gone. frightened creature. Time to return to col- corner of California. 1964 bus trip, the more with my parents and four Flooding brought up- With ropes and riggings, lege. But how? There After sitting outdoors dramatic the scenery be- siblings. I inhaled the rooted trees and boul- the steer was worked were no roads in or in the cold, covered came. Never before had Christmas smells, snug- ders thundering down slowly to the shore. out of Crescent City. area where the buses I witnessed the dusting gled in front of the the rivers, causing Christened “Bahamas,” Although we could not parked — because the of snow on our majestic fireplace and treasured destruction of any- this steer lived out his afford it, my parents indoor area was filled trees. Driving through the traditional activi- thing in their paths. life in a nice, penned arranged for me to be with unseemly charac- the Avenue of the Giants ties occurring in our fam- Lumber mills’ products enclosure at the north flown by commercial ters wanting to start gave me more than the ily, church and community. and unfinished materi- base of the newly re- airline to San Francis- up conversations, and usual sense of wonder Home and Crescent als joined the parade of placed Klamath Bridge, co from the tiny Cres- I instinctively knew it and joy at God’s cre- City, however, were swirling debris. Homes, until his death from cent City airport. It was dangerous to dwell ations. The sky had an somehow different that cars, animals, machin- natural causes after was my first time to be in the upstairs women’s eerie sepia tone and was year. It was almost as ery, precious posses- many years. He was im- on an airplane and the restroom — I finally half-dark, even though if the air was electri- sions … they disap- mortalized in the book weather was still tu- boarded the bus which it was mid-day. The fied. Anticipation of … peared amid the rubble. “Beloved Was Bahamas” multuous. Sudden jerks would take me all the trees appeared as black something. Much of this effluence written by California up, down, sideways … we way north to Crescent silhouettes against the Rain was not unusual. emerged into the Pacif- State Park ranger Har- flew out of the worst City. This was one of sky. Stark white snow But it rained. Rained ic Ocean from the mouths riett Weaver, who re- parts of the storms and the bus company’s “milk — almost incandescent hard. Rained continu- of the Smith and Klamath tired in Fortuna. landed safely. runs,” stopping in ev- — was bending branches ously, non-stop. We Rivers. Some swirled As is related in many Upon returning to the ery tiny burg along toward the earth. I spe- heard river reports, into the Crescent City other accounts, the en- UOP campus, I was told by Highway 101. The pas- cifically remember the advancing in their Harbor, creating a sol- tire North Coast became my college mates that I sage took many more stops in Scotia, Rio hints of fear; then dire id field of trees and a series of isolated should no longer return hours than car travel Dell and Fortuna, where warnings. logs, destroying docks areas and communities. home for holidays of any would have taken; but a the streets were shiny Friends who owned and moorings and boats. Only later did I learn sort! You see, when I car of my own was not a black with moisture and summer homes along Out in the harbor, a of dramatic rescues, of had gone home for Spring possibility, and my fa- the buildings’ eaves the rivers gave us the lone steer bawled loud- babies born in this time Break, earlier in that ther could not take time were edged in white news of their relax- ly. Unbelievable! This of crisis, of still-ex- year of 1964, the famed off to drive to Stockton frosting. The highway ing family getaways be- steer had survived the isting telephone poles tsunamis — caused by a and back. My mother, a went through the towns ing washed downstream. chaotic journey from being toppled so that massive earthquake in stay-at-home mom with instead of skirting Then we started hearing the Klamath area, out small planes could land Alaska — had devastated four other children, them as it now does. The about our neighbors in into the ocean, and into on streets and highways my hometown of Crescent did not drive. three-storied Lowe’s the , Klam- the harbor, within the to deliver medicines City. But … that’s an- Mostly, on these Furniture building in ath and Klamath Glen ar- jostling and uproari- and food and to take the other story. — Jo Anne McMath Cen- school break bus trips downtown Fortuna — the eas. These weren’t sum- ous confusion. Brave ill and infirm to safer — and maybe foolhardy places, of brave peo- ter, Fortuna www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 17 ALTON RESCUE Stranded flood victims at Alton watch as Army Reserve amphibious “ducks” arrive through turbulent water to reach them. Volunteer Civil ‘Get out of here now! Defense workers had set up a comunication network with portable radios. The Community Hall in Alton was The flood water is coming!’ home for scores of people stranded there. Driving back from Gar- night sleeping on the informed the neighbor berville the day before floor. Then we got a lady what was going to the flood hit, I no- room at the Maple Leaf happen so she would not ticed the water was get- motel in Fortuna with a call the police. ting close to the houses kitchen unit. I worked When we were able to we along the river at Phil- for Humboldt County Pub- went over Bell Springs lipsville. My wife and lic Works in construc- Mountain Road to Ukiah newborn daughter and I tion and was placed to make arrangements were living at the Eel overseeing replacing for a new trailer home. River Trailer Park at a bridge at Mad River After making a deal, it ‘There was nothing the foot of Drake Hill Slough. The people liv- was several weeks before Road in Fortuna. At ing on the west side of it could be delivered. 5 a.m. the next morn- the slough, their only I was told that it was left except the slab’ ing a loud knock on the access was by boat. the first mobile home door and a loud voice: Joe Mitchel, coun- to come up 101 and us- At the time of the ’64 flood month later, we went down “Get out of here now! ty road foreman in the ing Blue Slide road to my great-uncle, Lou Olan- to see what was left. The The flood water is com- Blocksburg area, called get to Fortuna. The next der, was living in Holmes. valley looked like someone ing!” My wife got our me on the radio saying several years I worked When word came that they had mashed everything down 19-day-old daughter and we were welcome to move on many bridge repair were going to be flooded, he with a giant hand. The en- I grabbed the diaper bag into his house on Roh- jobs that were damaged packed everything he could tire house was gone. There and a metal file box and nerville Road. He said by the flood and replac- into his truck, hitched up a was nothing left except the we got to higher ground. the bathroom window was ing ones that were lost trailer with more stuff and slab. Among the debris, It wasn’t long before not latched so I could by the flood, one be- drove to the top of a nearby there was only one object the water came putting crawl through to get ing the replacement of hill. It wasn’t high enough that hadn’t broken: a jar of four feet inside our new into the house. He said Ishi Pishi bridge across and he ended up being res- pickles. mobile home. My wife had to push their things out Klamath river at Somes cued by helicopter. About a —Julie Timmons, Eureka a sister living in Eu- of the way and stay as Bar. reka at the time and we long as needed. What a — Lawrence Harvey, stayed there the first true friend to have! I For t u n a

18 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 ‘A hero came by in a boat’

Our family mem- any neighbors because our dog. We all looked we had been doing for bers were my Dad, Ben of the bad storm con- back as we got into the an eternity. Then the Christen, my five ditions. The wind kept boat, as waves started boat was gunned for brothers Bernard, Pat, the water very rough to pound over the front shore, not letting off Ken, Bill and Art, and and white cap waves windows and more wa- until we hit land. myself Mary. These were everywhere and ter started to fill our People saw us coming are my memories of the the water got deep- house even more. We all and were amazed that 1964 flood. er faster. Our front had a sense of uncer- this boat had nine It was December steps kept beating tainty as we left our people in it and a dog. 1964, right before against the house home, into the boat, My Dad and brothers Christmas. I was 14 and were in danger of into the raging wa- jumped out, a little years old. I remember breaking loose. My ters, rain and wind of old man helped me and rain, lots of rain. older brother Pat, be- the flood. A dad, six carried me to shore. Dad said we were go- cause he was the tall- kids, one dog and two I felt sorry for him, ing to have a flood. I est, went out into the men headed for land. but I held on tight. did not ever remember flood waters to secure We were given boat I don’t remember be- being in a flood, so I the steps to the house. cushions for life ing scared, or maybe did not know what to Pat was also tied with jackets and were told we were so scared that expect. We felt safe, a rope, so he would to sit in the bottom of we forgot the fear. our home was dry and not be washed into the the boat and to hold That day, all my fam- warm — the wood stove flood. The water got onto anything and es- ily could have very CALIFORNIA GOV. BROWN was always burning and deeper — faster. Lat- pecially each other. easily died. My Dad our house was 8 feet er, we found out the Dad stood between the put his trust in oth- California Gov. Edmund G. “Pat” Brown flew off the ground, but dike had broken and man running the boat ers to get his family over areas of the flooded North Coast saying he right in the middle of sent massive amounts and his partner. The to safety. A hero came was appalled by the utter devastation. Brown the Loleta valley and of water into the val- waves were really high by in a boat in a rag- had eight months earlier visited tsunami- the Eel River basin. ley. Waves pounded our and then we would dip ing flood and saved a devastated Crescent City following the March Early in the morning, house, rain came down, way down, just hop- dad and his six kids. I 28, . Dad had told us he was not letting up. And ing out boat motor never knew who he was, going to move our cars the water got deeper. would not hang up in but my brother Bernard uptown Loleta. When he It started to seep the many fence lines. found out a few years came back to the house, into the house. I won- The whole Loleta val- later. He put his life we settled in to expe- dered, do we mop it? ley was filled with and the life of his rience the flood. As Dad told us to let it raging water. Gales, friend in terrible the morning went on, be and the water en- fierce winds and very danger to save others. the river started sur- tered our house. We put rough waters. We made Our home was com- rounding the house. our Christmas gifts on our journey, about 2 pletely destroyed as The water was only a the top bunk bed. We miles or so, to land. logs and debris turned foot or so deep, so it put our dryer on top of Very dangerous. Our it into a rubble pile. didn’t seem a threat. the washing machine. boat was being bounced Our loss was little The rains kept up and We put all our clothes around very violently. compared to our neigh- the winds started. Rain and shoes as high as The boat tried landing bors, who also lost and winds pounded our we could. We all wore along the Copenhagen their farm animals. house. All of us gath- our water boots, as Road, but high waves The days and weeks ered around our wood our house took on more and debris made it that followed were stove, as we seemed water. too dangerous. Later, very busy for all of us to be cold and chilled From almost out of we found out that the that went through the now. As we looked out nowhere, a boat came people watching the flood. There were many the windows, the river by our house. Yelling, boat from the ranch different agencies was rising fast. You the man in the boat house thought we went that provided our fam- could not see the top told us to get in and down in the current ily with food, cloth- of the fence post, so that this was our last and waves. ing, furniture and the water was 3-4 feet chance to get out. Our So our boat cap- support to help us get deep now. As the water house had a part of tain went back into a new start. Dad found got deeper, our fire- it that was somewhat the dangerous flood us a house uptown Lo- wood all floated away. sheltered, and that is waters, trying for a leta, now occupied The onions we had hang- where the boat eased better landing. The by my eldest brother ing on the walls under in. Opening the side boat headed down to- Bernard and his wife the house floated away window, all six of us ward Loleta. Seeing a Claire. also. kids got into the boat, better spot, we were — Mary Christen Burns, You could not see along with our Dad and told to hang on, which Rio Dell www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 19 Flood Memories Pulled from chaos Eureka attorney, veteran recounts rescue missions in Eel, valleys

force, Scott said it still people off at a Red Cross so swift that we’d up going left an impression on him station in Fortuna or Eu- into the Pacific Ocean.” even though he was in less reka. Other than Scott’s own danger in his hometown On the first day of the gut feeling, there were of Eureka mission, Scott saw first- also obvious signs of the “Growing up in this hand what became of the dangers the high waters county, we were familiar lush agricultural Eel River presented. with the small communi- Valley. “There were thousands ties along the Eel River “We were instructed to of dairy cows, I remem- such as Pepperwood, take medical supplies and ber, just drowning and Shively, Weott, Myers blankets to Ferndale, and flowing down the river for Flat,” he said. “And sud- at that point as we drove about three days,” he said. denly, they were gone.” along the freeway above “These dead cows were Now 78 years old and , I could see a coming through there two still practicing law at sea of water from Fern- and three and four and his private firm on Sixth bridge west,” he said. “Un- five and six at a time. So, Street, Scott recently sat interrupted water. Fern- I didn’t want to get into behind a large desk in an dale was surrounded by that swift current with the office filled with law text- water.” ducks.” books and pictures of the Due to the hazardous When they reached the family he raised in Eure- conditions posed by the city, Scott saw what had ka. One picture he showed flood waters, Scott said become of Ferndale. was a of much younger they were not able to “Well, the roofs were ap- version of himself sitting make it to Ferndale as one parent and the walls were behind another desk with of his primary goals as a apparent, but the water three young men at his commanding officer was sometimes was surround- side talking, the majority to ensure that his men ing the foundation,” he BY WILL HOUSTON dressed in Army Reserve were not harmed or killed, said. “Many houses were PHOTO BY SHAUN WALKER [email protected] Uniforms. As a captain in as well as prevent the loss broken up and damaged, @Will_S_Houston on Twitter the 250th Transportation of as many ducks as pos- and the people would go Eureka attorney Jeremiah Scott After the Christmas Company Army Reserve sible — a goal he would to the high point of the tells the story of how he and his Flood wreaked havoc on unit, Scott was called upon succeed in. buildings. It was chaotic. crew of Army Reserve servicemen the towns and cities in the again to lead a group of 18 “We came back to Fern- Yes, chaotic and stressful took out amphibious “duck” crafts Eel River and Van Duzen to rescue stranded people in the men and nine amphibi- bridge and I could see the to these folks. They were River valleys 50 years ago, ous vehicles known as water was really perco- losing their homes and all Eel River Valley after the flood hit Eureka native and Army in December 1964. DUKWs or “ducks” — once lating fast, and I was re- of their properties to the veteran Jeremiah Scott Jr. used to land troops on the ally fearful of losing those flood waters. They were shelved his attorney suit beaches of Normandy and ducks in swift water,” he generally family members and replaced it with his the South Pacific during said. “So I walked across or more than one family. Army Reserve uniform World War II —to rescue Fernbridge to see what You’d have two or more to take part in a multi- and bring medical sup- the water was like on the houses nearby and they day rescue operation that plies to the trapped inhab- other side with my people, would go together to the would save hundreds of itants of the Van Duzen sergeants and lieutenants, highest ground and were people from water-locked and Eel river valleys after and I didn’t want to take hopefully waiting for res- homes after the destruc- the flood struck. those ducks on the bridge cue.” tive torrent struck in De- After each rescue mis- unless we could turn Getting to the towns cember 1964. sion, the company would around on the other side. was the most challeng- When the flood hit full drop the liberated towns- The water was so deep and ing feat to accomplish 20 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 LUMBER & BUILDING SUPPLY

Serving our community for more than 65 years.

Behind every Project is a

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMIAH SCOTT JR. From left to right: 2nd Lt. Ray Schofield, Capt. Jeremiah Scott Jr., 1st Lt. David Alden, 1st Lt. Bill Sul- livan of the 250th Transportation Company of the U.S. Army Reserve. Led by Scott, the 18-person Army Reserve unit saved hundreds from water-locked or destroyed homes in the Eel and Van Duzen river valleys after the great flood of December 1964. for Scott, which proved Scott said they did not rary respite back in Eu- Forbusco.com • 1784 Smith Lane • Fortuna, CA • 707 - 725-5111 much harder for the cit- make it into Rio Dell until reka from the chaos and ies of Scotia and Rio Dell. the fifth or sixth day of the calamities carried in the Several bridges leading in mission due to complica- flood waters. Others were and out of the cities had tions of getting into the not as fortunate when been broken apart or col- town and had to use the they returned to their own lapsed entirely due to the uneven Blue Slide Road homes, Scott said. constant pummelling and from Ferndale to Rio Dell “The water went down “Our Family Serving buildup of timber, debris until Caltrans constructed below flood stage and and buildings on their a temporary wood bridge so people started going your Family” foundations. to gap the damage one. back to their homes and “We couldn’t cross. “You’d have to go to see trying to save personal There used to be a saw what was left. You’d have property. It was very cha- mill, right before you go to to try to see if the bridges otic,” he said. “They had the bridge, Eel River Saw or the roads were in,” he to relocate their living Mill,” he said. “The rail- said. “We were very cau- abodes and their living road went behind the saw- tious. We didn’t take any activities above the high mill at the Scotia bluffs. I bad chances.” water mark. You can see Gobles Fortuna Mortuary has been thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ll When asked how many the remnants of the flood go along the trestle to get people he and his troop when you go down old serving famlies in the Humboldt County to Scotia with the ducks.’” saved, Scott said he did Highway 101. In those “But I thought, ‘Jeez, if I not have an exact figure communities, there is area Since 1946, as a family owned get stuck out there I can’t but it was likely in the nothing left of the com- turn around. I’d better hundreds. munities.” and operated firm with integrity, walk it and see.’ So I stated “They were really happy Scott would retire from walking along the Scotia to see us,” he said. “They the Army Reserve in 1966 honor and professionalism. bluffs on the railroad and were facing danger immi- at the rank of captain. the railroad had been torn nent danger or death, and He is a contributor and out by the flood so there they were really happy to a former president of the was no railroad left.” see the WW II ducks come Humboldt County Histor- (707) 725-2294 Such was the case for up to get them.” ical Society. 560 12th St., Fortuna, CA Will Houston can be reached at hundreds of miles of track At the end of each day, goblesmortuary.com between Scotia and Willits. Scott would have tempo- 707-441-0504. www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 21 Weott neighbors move furniture on Dec 21, 1964 ahead of the rising VOLUNTEERS Eel River. Neighbors helping neighbors • Young and old alike pulled together to assist 1964 flood victims

BY HEATHER SHELTON throughout the area ral- “They were the first and supplies to people [email protected] The Times-Standard lied to aid those in need. people that were there,” stranded in the flood. Carol Moses, a former Moses said. “The Red Bistrin’s and Daly’s, she The December 1964 resident of Fortuna who Cross hadn’t even gotten said, also opened their flood is a dark time in now lives in Arizona, re- there yet, but they were doors, taking clothing off Humboldt County his- called in a recent phone there. There were a lot of the racks to give to peo- tory: lives lost, property interview that her hus- other local organizations ple who only had the wet ruined, towns destroyed. band worked for the that also helped out. clothes on their backs. But even in the bleak- Department of Social People took care of each “The community came est hours, as storms and Services when the flood other.” together,” Moses said. “It floods ravaged the North hit. He and other Social Moses remembers her made you proud to be Coast, there were some Services staffers worked husband telling her that from Humboldt.” bright spots. out of the Fortuna Vet- Shear’s Grocery Store in Looking over the pag- Neighbors helped erans Memorial Building Fortuna opened its store- es of the December 1964 neighbors. Volunteers on flood relief. room and donated food Humboldt Standard and helped strangers. People

22 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 Humboldt Times, one ing. can read story after story “As a Red Cross vol- of folks coming forward unteer,” she said, “I was to lend a hand. Here are very impressed by the just a few examples: legacy of the volun- Red Cross teers that worked with The first Red Cross di- very little and worked saster specialists arrived very hard and had been in Humboldt County on impacted by the flood Dec. 22. By New Year’s themselves. They were Eve, more than 150 spe- really selfless.” cialists were scattered Salvation Army throughout the most crit- When disaster struck ical areas of the county, Humboldt County, it took according to “The Thou- the Salvation Army “only sand Year Flood: Six Riv- minutes to mobilize and ers on a Rampage,” a spe- carry relief to the hun- cial section that ran in dreds of early refugees the Times and Standard brought into the Eureka in February 1965. Four area,” according to “The mobile and 15 station- Thousand Year Flood.” ary canteens were placed Clothing began pouring in operation by the Red in from many locations. Cross, serving more than Food was collected and 250,000 sandwiches, financial donations were directed from the store to aid in the massive dents from George C. Ja- KLAMATH At Klamath, 750,000 cups of coffee, sent in from around the to flood victims, as well task of cleanup and res- cobs Junior High School the Klamath River crested 14,000 doughnuts, 400 country. as 30 stoves, 41 couches, toration of flood-ravaged and Eureka Senior High at 55 feet, 15 feet above gallons of soup, 6,500 A cooperative canteen, 10 refrigerators and 300 homes. They came to School donated more flood stage. Klamath quarts of milk, 150 gal- managed by women beds. The Eureka store Humboldt County from than 5,000 “food items” was hard hit in the 1955 lons of cocoa and nearly from the McKinleyville received donations not areas around the state, for local families in need. flood. In the 1964 flood, 64,000 hot meals. Presbyterian Church and only from other stores in including Merced, Wil- At the time, Superinten- the community was 98 The Red Cross also other groups, was set up California, but also from lows and Turlock, bring- dent Jack Singer said the percent destroyed. provided Christmas trees at the Arcata-Eureka Air- around the country. ing their own equipment response of the students and gifts for children port. More than 18,000 Other volunteers and supplies. “is a strong indication staying in local shelters meals were served at the In addition to these The Humboldt County that the spirit of Christ- because their own homes airport canteen. The Sal- larger, more organized Disaster Relief Fund – mas is as strong as it had been damaged or de- vation Army spent $1,470 responses, there were created by the Humboldt ever was” and that “the stroyed during the holi- to keep the airport can- also plenty of smaller County Board of Super- students are to be com- day week disaster. teen and another loca- acts of kindness tak- visors – collected more mended for their will- “There was a very tion in Weott stocked ing place to help flood than $300,000 to aid ingness to work for and strong showing from with food, according to victims throughout the flood victims in its first share with others.” Red Cross volunteers newspaper reports. North Coast. They in- 24 hours of existence. Nellist said her late during the ‘64 flood as The Salvation Army clude: Some of the contributors husband was also in- well as the ‘55 flood,” also distributed tons of In Klamath, Mrs. Lew- included A.M. Bistrin of volved in flood relief said Linda Nellist of Eu- food and clothing from is Rode cooked around Eureka, Lloyd Anderson while he was still in high reka, former community a Wabash Avenue ware- the clock at the Trees of Fortuna Music Mart, school. education director for house in Eureka. More Restaurant for people Hermis Daily of Blue “My late husband was the Humboldt-Del Norte than 400 new blankets who fled their homes Lake and Laura Wagner, a high school senior in Chapter of the American were also given away. when the Klamath River just 6 years old. ‘64,” Nellist said. “He Red Cross. “I remember St. Vincent de Paul flooded. Rode supervised Members of the Eure- spoke of folks, guys espe- seeing … pictures of Red The Eureka St. Vincent the preparation of food ka 20-30 Club led a drive cially, in his senior class Cross nurses in their de Paul store “filled a for nearly 200 people to collect toys for chil- at Eureka High … help- skirts and hats and they great need” in terms of per meal and kept the dren in the flooded or ing with loading boats were climbing into boats flood relief, according stove hot in between for distressed areas in time and planes and off-load- and going out to help to “The Thousand Year snacks. for Christmas. Toys were ing things to be distrib- new mothers. … There Flood.” Howard Wash- In Holmes Flat, 27 brought to the Carson uted to people in need. are pictures that show burn, store manager back members of the Church Memorial Building for I remember him saying a lot of women feeding in 1964, estimated that at of God in Christ, Menno- distribution. that that really solidi- people at the shelters, least 100,000 articles of nite, moved into the area Responding to a call fied for him that it’s the helping with clothes dis- clothing alone had been on the Eel River above from the Associated community that makes tribution and food sort- Shively in January 1965 Charities of Eureka, stu- things happen.” www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 23 Letter from the dairy in Coffee Creek

January 1965

Life on the farm in the lovely green Eel River Valley is now a nightmare of mud and hard work. The Joe Regli family is fine, but we have had quite an experience which I must tell you all about. I feel that I could write a book.

We had had lots of rain this fall, as usual. In December we had one storm after another just like the rest of the country. The week before Christmas, Dec. 16, (1964) Joe's dad and his brother Phil and wife, Harlean, went to Canada on a business trip. Phil's daughter, Kelly, stayed with Joe's mom. His son, Kent, stayed with Joe's sister, Pat, in Eureka.

Monday morning, Dec. 21, around 5 a.m., Joe's mom called to say that the electricity was off and they had better get the cows in. They couldn't milk until 8 a.m. when the power came back on. I washed all the diapers and children's clothes in case the electricity went off again. The wind was blowing so hard that we figured it would. We also thought the water might go over our lane so Joe went to town to get some groceries and a case of SMA formula for the baby, Bernadette, barely two months old.

Monday night was very stormy. The wind blew the rain in under the window sills on the south side of the house. I had towels along the windows and had to wring them out whenever I got up with the baby. I checked on the children and found water dripping right by Mike's head so we had to move his bed. We didn't sleep very well!!

Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 4 a.m. Joe got up and called John so they could try to milk the cows before the electricity went off again. Joe filled our little gallon milk can with water. (We have an electric water pump.) The lights went off at 4:30 and Joe went back to bed. John went home. About 6 a.m. our big backyard was under a foot of water. John came over to move his sheep from there to the front yard. He had about seven sheep and two lambs. It was very warm out, a sign of more rain, I learned. We knew we were in for a flood. John called his sister, Eileen, to bring his car over before the little bridge between the two places went out. John and Joe took the cars to the end of our lane. Then, as soon as it got light they tried to get the cows to the neighbors at the end of the lane, but they wouldn't go through the water already on the road. They had to send them over the bridge to the folk's barn. John went with the cows. Joe worked all morning doing what he could on the place to get ready for a flood. He tied one bull, son of Tony's prize cow, Joyce, to a telephone pole in front of the house. About

24 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 1 p.m. Joe came in and ter was already in the on and I put his rub- box springs on top of like put the bull up About 12:00 o'clock we started to wait. We woodshed and some of ber boots on over my one crib. Took Becky's some safe place. They one of the lambs got just didn't know what the wood was wet. Joe shoes. The water was folding crib up; took had no flood water in out and made an awful to expect. The wa- started taking things within an inch or two up the baby (Berna) and their house or barn or fuss downstairs. Joe ter had only one more upstairs. I got things of the playpen when we her little crib. When driveway and couldn't went down and caught it step to go on the back ready to make ten bot- got Becky, 13 months, we had done all that we realize how helpless just as it went by the porch. It was high tide tles of formula we were. Our main staircase. He put it in and we thought when the and waited for the concern at this the bath tub upstairs. tide went out the wa- water to boil. I time was for the The second one got out, ter would drop. Joe was thought it never safety of our fam- too, but Joe couldn't wishing he had sent us would. We put the ily. find it in the dark. to Fortuna to my folks. washer, dryer and He went back out and refrigerator up All I could see We had cold sup- About 2:00 a.m. when I moved the bull into the on 4 inch blocks, per of roast beef, fed the baby the sky had bed of the pick-up. He put the buffet up of the pickup applesauce and cleared enough to let a brought the two lambs on two kitchen potato chips. We little moonlight shine in and put them in the chairs. The couch lit some candles on the flood water. It laundry tub. In the went up on chairs. was the roof and got the chil- was quite bright and I bad flood of 1955 the The kitchen and dren to bed. Then looked out. All I could water got just to the dining room tables of the cab! The we said a rosary see of the pickup was bottom step on the back were loaded with together. The wa- the roof of the cab! porch. Now here it was things. All at once ter downstairs by The bull was gone!!! almost to the top! No I noticed little bull was gone!!! this time sounded one thought there could puddles of water on like lake water At last dawn came and ever be a worse flood the floor! At first lapping at a pier the water started to go than '55! I have never I thought it was on a warm summer down. We could see lots been so nervous in my from Joe's boots, night. Outside the of traffic on the road life. We began to think but they got larger. out and took Becky and could think of, we went wind kept blowing in to town. We guessed about going upstairs. The water wasn't coming playpen upstairs. I fi- upstairs to wait. Joe great gusts that shook they were taking peo- I had to make formula in the doors like I ex- nally finished the for- went down a few times the entire house. We ple from flooded areas so we started a fire in pected...It was coming mula. We took up all for things we had for- did manage to sleep a into Ferndale. We hung the trash burner again. right up through the mattresses and bedding gotten and to answer the little that night be- an old sheet from the I had let the morning floor!!!! and some clothes for phone. They were still tween baby feedings window so they would fire go out because it the children; also all calling from the oth- and news reports on know we were in the up- was so warm. The wa- Joe had his waders the diapers! We put the er place to do things the transistor radio. stairs. Then John came

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 25 over from the other are missing. place in the rowboat. After he looked things Everywhere in the over a bit, Joe took him valley all people talk back and then took the about is the terrible boat to the end of the disaster. How many feet lane. We didn't know of water did you get? what the situation was How many cows did you in tow. Perhaps we were save? So and so did all well off! I told Joe to right and we thought try to bring us some he would be wiped out. water and some kind of Others that seemed high a little stove if he and dry were flooded couldn't find a place out. Everywhere for for us in town. miles around people are counting their losses I watched out the and their blessings. window all afternoon and thought Joe would (Added by hand) About never come back. Then the wrong information when I was in the other you mentioned -- The room tearing rags to first warning we got use for diapers some- was 22 feet. That is one dressed in a frog not enough for most suit came bounding in people to worry much. the house and up the By the time people re- stairs! Joe was back alized how bad it was with the rowboat and going to be it was too three men in a larger late to do much. We boat. They went over to have some friends who see if Elizabeth, Ei- live near the river. leen and Kelly wanted Every year we get high out, but they had wa- water and a “little” ter, food and the wood flood. They put up all stove so they stayed. their furniture, move We packed a suitcase, home by plane and heli- ner by candlelight at came in the next four ter so we could pump the cows, etc. And she bundled the children copter. I went to mid- Evelyns. days by helicopter and water from the ditch and the children go to the best we could, and night Mass in slacks, brought a crew of men to hose the mud out her folks. And it is took them out the win- tennis shoes and my Saturday, Dec. 26, I and a motor for milking of the house. Joyce, always just a waste dow for their first ski parka. They had a made my first trip back the cows at the folks the world famous cow, of energy. This time, boat ride! generator running one to the house. What a place. (The barn at died. she and the children light in church. The mess!! Our fence and our place is a mess). stayed at the house. We stayed at Joe's few people there were a wooden sidewalk were in Joe's sister, Pat, and Monday we worked They were upstairs for Aunt Evelyn's with an- mixture of well dressed a heap. The front porch her husband, Dick, on the house. Monday two nights! other flooded family. town folks and unshav- and the steps were walked in bringing SMA night we had power and Joe borrowed a crib for en, dirty refugees. The gone. A few of John's and cigarettes. They all had a hot bath. The house is start- Becky. The Sisters from Christmas crib looked dead sheep were lying stayed overnight with Tuesday Joe and I went ing to look great now. the convent brought dark, the church was in the yard. All of our the folks. to Joe's folks. The But we are having an- over some baby food. We cold and everyone was wood had floated out of road to Fernbridge was other storm now and I had no power, but had a tired. the woodshed. There was Sunday, Mom sent a open to most pickups. am afraid the water gas range and running a huge pile of debris note telling me to send There were road blocks will come through the water. We bought the Friday, Christmas caught by our hedge in the children. The road all over the place and upstairs windows and last half dozen diapers Day, my father and the back yard. Slip- to Fernbridge had been passes were needed to ruin our new wallpa- in town. brother walked in from pery mud was all over partially cleared and go anywhere. per. It does this when Fernbridge to see how we the place. We had over they were taking army we have a south wind. Thursday, Dec. 24, were. (Fernbridge was three feet of water in trucks over it. Pat, We had New Years (Usually about once a the water was down one of the few bridges the house. It left four Dick and Harlean took dinner at Mom's and I year) The water goes enough for Joe to get that didn't wash out). inches of mud. There our children and Kelly stayed in Fortuna for down inside the wall to the house and start I didn't see them as was mud in every cup- over in an army truck. a few days. Now we are and it would be a real operation mop-up. One they went to the ranch board and every cor- One of my few weak mo- drying the house out job to try to fix it. of the neighbors helped and worked until dark. ner, even behind the ments was watching and starting to fix him and took the lamb They helped get the bureaus; our wedding them go. The children it up. They are laying Never live in an old home. Her sister-in- little bridge out of book and the baby books went to Fortuna, Har- cement in our barn; house! law brought diapers our yard and back where are a mess. We cleaned lean and Kelly went to we are paying a for- and baby clothes. They it belonged. Then they up the bedroom set and Eureka with Pat and tune for hay and grain Hope to move back in towed the pickup and had an awful trip walk- saved that. All appli- Dick. Two of Mom's to feed the cows. We this week. I sure miss one tractor into town ing back to Fernbridge ances except the re- friends took Becky and are still keeping our the kids. to be repaired. Tony, in the dark. We had a frigerator still have Berna. Dad got a pump eyes and ears open for Phil and Harlean came lovely Christmas din- to be repaired. Dad flown in by helicop- fourteen heifers that Love, Cami 26 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 MY HERO FROM THE 1964 DECEMBER FLOOD I’m not going to say the flood waters rose Flooding was wide- turned to Eureka again two dug in and worked that I am a survivor of higher and higher. spread. Caltrans had crossing the Klamath hard all day. the 1964 flood. As a This boy was moved by rigged up a raft with a River by raft. As others will con- boy of fifteen during the losses they endured, cable on each end. It The next day this firm, this was an act the flood, even though losing their homes and was big enough to carry friend of mine, along repeated, over and we became isolated, I farms, and all that one vehicle at a time. with another driver who over, by many citizens still lived safely at went with them. They Each truck was loaded had a four wheel drive who were compelled to home in Eureka and did lost their bedding, onto the raft and a sig- pickup, went to the act to help others dur- not really suffer. Many their clothes, and, as nal was given to haul Ferndale. This time ing this tragic event. families homes were it was Christmas, even the raft across. Right the trucks had shov- What stands out to me lost and their land was their Christmas pres- away the raft headed els and rakes. Traf- was that my friend was overrun by flood wa- ents. These people were down river, only to be fic was being monitored sixteen at the time. He ters. For them it was hit hard. My friend held back by the cable on Fernbridge. But, faced danger, yet act- a scary and tragic expe- was moved to do some- from this end. There the two were allowed ed for the benefit of rience. Many suffered. thing, anything that he were no guard rails on to cross. On the other others who he did not But during those days could do to help those Don Smullin the raft, so the boys side of the bridge the know. There were many of the flood there were in distress. So, he stayed inside the cab roads were all covered heroes during the 1000 also many heroes who helped organize a car- them to the flood vic- until reaching the oth- in mud. The two plowed year flood. This boy came to peoples aid. avan of pickup trucks tims. When this group er side. Finally, they through the mud in has always been one of One of those was a boy I to Crescent City. He, of eight pickups got to all made it across and their four wheel drive my hero’s. His name is knew who went to Eure- along with other mem- the Klamath River, the got to Crescent City. vehicles, and when they Don Smullin. Many of ka High with me. He was bers of our Key Club, bridge had been washed The Kiwanians from got their first oppor- you know him today as deeply touched by the gathered up bedding, out and the situation Crescent City waited tunity, started helping the Executive Director overwhelming challenges dry clothes and canned was dangerous. The for them and distribut- the families muck out of the Greater Eureka faced by those who could food, and headed up the river stretched from ed the bedding, clothes their homes. There was Chamber of Commerce. do nothing but watch as highway hoping to bring mountain to mountain. and food. To boys re- plenty of work and the — Marc Matteoli Watching the A treacherous trip home We went to Bakers- starting to snow, so we posed to be boats taking and wide. I was scared flood from afar field to visit family got a motel in Weed to people across. to death, and so were the for Christmas in 1964, spend the night. So we headed south to kids. But those jet boats The 1964 flood oc- switchboard on and my husband and I and our That room was freez- Crescent City and there, were pretty big. We all curred during the hol- begin answering the four children, ages 8, ing cold. I guess they we were told the “jet boat got in, and away we went. idays. People waited counters’ calls on 10, 11 and 14. thought no one would come tours” was taking people Janey was waiting for us all day and night to passengers’ itin- While there we saw on by and rent it, so they across, but we would need on the other side, along catch a flight to Hum- eraries and closing the TV news all the aer- didn't have it heated. We someone to pick us up on with a couple more cars boldt County for their out flights with gate ial pictures of the dam- finally went to bed and the other side. and a taxi. holiday visit except agents. age being done by all the slept, as we’d been on So we tried to call When we got to Orick, non-emergency person- For days, I watched swollen rivers here in the road all day and were our friends and neigh- the water had gone down nel were not allow to ACV flights leave Humboldt. Also, the dam- tired. bors but couldn't reach but it was a mess, silt fly into the county. with staff members age to all the roads. Next morning, we head- anyone. Found out later everywhere. It looked As a reservation of the Army Corps of Going home, southbound ed up I-5 to my parents the lines were down on pretty good to us though. agent, I started my Engineers, emergency 101 was closed, so we home just east of Cot- the north side of Redwood We finally got home. work shift at 5:30 personnel and box- went up I-5 to Redding, tage Grove, Oregon. We Creek. Then we called After two or three a.m. and needed to es strapped into the hoping we could take stayed with them a couple Janey Dorsey, who lived weeks, the Army Corps step, jump or zigzag seats. When I moved to Highway 299 to Arcata and of days and then started near Freshwater Lagoon of Engineers started a around or over sleep- Humboldt County, I saw then go north to our home calling the Highway De- and she said she would ferry system to take ve- ing bodies in the the high river water on a hillside overlook- partment about the roads drive up and get us. hicles across and we were lobby and hallways mark sign on Highway ing Redwood Creek 2 miles south to Grants Pass and We had an old friend in able to retrieve our car. in order to reach the 101 and knew how for- west of Orick on Gunst Highway 199 down to 101. Crescent City who said And that was our Pacific Airline’s of- tunate the county was Road. They told us the road he’d drive us down and Christmas vacation in fice. in 1964 to have com- When we got to Redding, was open to Crescent City keep our car for us. We 1964. We'll never forget It was my respon- mercial air service. 299 was also closed so but the bridge was out got there just in time for it. sibility to turn the — Alex Stillman, Ar- we went on north. It was (gone!) over the Klamath the last trip of the day, — Janice and Jack Dore, lights, heat, and cata getting late by then and River, but there was sup- and that river was high Rio Dell (formerly of Orick) www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 27 Fresh Cooked Breakfest Served Daily Inquire about our wonderful dinners GGiftGifGiftift CerCCererttificatestificatesificates AvAvailableailabl

HOBY’S MARKET 1964 flood cover of Life

This January 8, 1965, perwood. The building 19 years. Having been Life Magazine cover thought to be a house flooded out in the 1955 In Rememberance shows a photo of an up- was really the busi- flood, they rebuild and ended structure, sur- ness, Boehm’s Cafe, of began again, like most rounded by mud and de- Emil and Mary Boehm, my Eel River residents, bris, left in place by parents. It was a popu- never believing it could the 60-plus feet of lar eating place for lo- happen again. flood waters that rav- cals and visiting fish- — Joy Boehm Worrell, 105 Main St., Scotia CA aged the town of Pep- ermen and hunters for For t u n a

28 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 got a teaching job in a not allow his employees came a meeting place. seven-room school, be- to occupy sheds that had Not surprisingly, a tween Blocksburg (pop. survived the deluge. good supply of “jump- 12) and Fort Seward, We hadn’t got around to high-bacon” was avail- where the population building an ark, so I able. Even if the game tripled every Saturday opened the school gym- warden had been around, night because of a popu- nasium. Families with it was assumed that he lar bar. their pets moved in with would have understood. There had been live- the few possessions An occasional heli- ly a pre-holiday party they had rescued. We copter landed on the at Casterlin School utilized food from the school playing field with lights and food school kitchen to feed with food and blankets, and even some original the families. It was which we distributed. music:“Cold wind blow, warm and convivial un- There was one tragic Have no Fear, Hearts til the power lines came chopper crash. Babies grow warm, With Christ- down and it became very happen. Since I had mas Cheer.” dark and cold. In other some previous experi- I anticipated a re- times some of us would ence with the process, I laxing vacation in our have been in trouble was called to help with home, which was set on for what happened next. a delivery. The mira- a hillside, in the for- The doors of a couple of cle of birthing had be- est, a quarter of a mile old unused houses were gun, when suddenly, in from School. That was kicked in and the houses a driving rainstorm, a not going to happen! were carefully occupied. chopper, at tremendous While I was chopping The Store-Post Office risk, swooped down and wood, my wife Carol de- in Blocksburg was soon carried off the poor cided to take our four out of supplies and of woman with her half- youngsters to look for a course, there was no born babe. Christmas tree. I don’t mail. Telephone lines Perhaps, all consid- recall the following, were down and the only ered, it was for the best. however, she insists two-way radio on hand Subsequent disasters, An island in the that I told her, “Hurry was soon out of commis- such as the South-Asian back, because it’s go- sion. We were almost tsunamis and flooding ing to rain like it’s totally and somewhat in various countries coast range never rained before!” pleasantly — isolated. including the U.S., Starting December 18, Neighbors who hadn’t eclipse the stories our And the rain was upon For about two weeks, Early in the 1960s, 1964, it rained and it spoken to each other famous flood, as the the earth, forty days the unsuspecting coun- years before that part rained — like it had for years got togeth- climate is disrupted. and forty nights.” King try folk were literally of Humboldt County be- never rained before. er. People bartered for Nevertheless, thank James’ scribes were not stranded in the coastal came known as “the Em- Dobbin Creek, in the food and other necessi- you, Times Standard writing about the 1964- mountains of northern erald Triangle”, timber valley below us, be- ties. There were warm for this time of remem- 1965 flood that hit ma- California. There was mills were not few and came a raging river. fires and stacks of dry brance. And finally: If jor portions of western a period of torrential not far between. Also, Bridges, roadways and firewood. Fortunately, you can avoid a flood, America, as well they rain and then some sort after escaping from Los an entire mill settle- I had bottled about five do so; if you can’t, might have been, because of precipitation and an- Angeles, with my fam- ment were flushed down gallons of high-octane stay dry and somewhat it was a disaster of other for total of forty ily, and before years of river. An extremely of- ginger ale. For several congenial. Biblical proportions. days and forty nights! overseas assignments, I ficious mill boss would reasons, our home be- — John Wiebe, Trinidad ‘I was working every day from daylight until after dark’ I was working as an 20, overseeing a con- ceived 23 inches in two her first grandchild, stuck, and blocking the some time driving engineering employee tractor building a tem- days! Lake Mendocino and ended up staying a road, that the National around looking for any- for the California Di- porary log bridge over had gotten up to within month before she could Guard was used to guide one that had road build- vision of Highways, Cold Creek, where the 2 inches of going over get home; she was big convoys back and forth ing equipment (dump working on the Ukiah bridge had washed out! the Dam, and people who help, as I was working to Garberville! I had trucks, tractors, etc.) bypass, when the flood Ukiah was completely lived along the Rus- every day from daylight to drive the road in a We would sign them to a occurred! My son was blocked off from the sian River in Ukiah until after dark (for 4x4 with chains on all contract, and put them born about a week (Dec. north, south, and east were evacuated (this over a month). four wheels to take pho- to work! 16) before the flood for several days, Fort included myself), so I The Bell Springs Coun- tos for the Division of After we got the high- struck, and I had taken Bragg was accessible had to take a few hours ty road north of Layton- Highways, in order to ways opened, I took some two weeks vacation to be through some back roads! and move my wife, new ville was used as a tem- determine the damage, time off to spend with with my wife and son. I Meanwhile, it was still son and mother-in-law porary Highway 101 to if any, after the Di- my wife and son. I still was called back to work raining, with Ukiah uptown to a motel. My Garberville, but there vision of Highways were tease my son about com- a couple of days after getting over 8 inch- mother-in-law had come was so much snow in the through with it! ing into the world and the flood hit, and was es of rain in one day; down from Fort Seward higher elevations that At one point, early causing a flood! put to work on Highway west of Laytonville re- before the flood to see people were getting in the flood, I spent — Jim Boyett, Fortuna www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 29 Our family was the tion of Gomes living in many thought we could bridge, in our aunt and third generation liv- Ferndale. After surviv- handle the next flood. uncle’s house, watch- ‘It was devastating’ ing in Ferndale during ing the 1955 flood with I was 12 years old dur- ing the Eel River take the ’64 flood. Today a foot of water in our ing the ’64 flood. After logs, houses, cattle, it is the fifth genera- house at Port Kenyon, spending days at Fern- and lumber to sea, we

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30 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 didn’t know if we had a fences by the hundreds and house left. Day after day logs stuck inside of hous- we watched a crane opera- es before we got to Fern- tor on the bridge near dale. There was so much the creamery grabbing de- mud that Army equipment bris of logs, wood, and and trucks were used to stumps and setting them open a small lane to drive on the downriver side of through. When we got to the bridge. I believe this Port Kenyon, we could see helped the bridge to with- they were using the Fair- stand the pounding of the grounds for helicopter logs and debris coming landings. We saw my grand- down the river. parents’ house with water Finally, the day be- in it and their garage, fore Christmas, the wa- as well as ours, down the ter receded enough for road, a mile or so. More Army trucks to cross the dead animals, furniture, bridge with personnel appliances were scattered and supplies. On Christ- everywhere in the mud. Our mas Day, my dad, the late house had six feet of wa- E.L. “Zip” Gomes, and I ter in it, as high as our walked across Fernbridge Christmas tree, and the and got a ride from a man presents were strewn in in a Jeep. The first thing the mud, inside and out- that I saw, and it’s still side of homes. Some fami- vivid today, were all the lies spent nights in their PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CYNTHIA ADKISSON dead cows being loaded in attics watching the water dump trucks taken to be rise. Our house was even- These are the pressman who printed the ‘64 “Souvenir Flood Edition”. buried. tually torn down. Some From left to right are Doug Chapman, Larry Bachetti, Ray Davis, Joe Malloy, Nick Walkow, and Jack The new highway to Fern- neighbors and relatives Viale. Doug is my father, and Nick Walkow was my uncle. These gentlemen worked the nightshift so dale was destroyed, buck- moved to town, some moved that everybody could have their paper in the morning. led and torn apart from away … it was devastating the raging waters. We saw to say the least. logs and cows hung up on — Tom Gomes, Loleta

Get Started at www.redwoods.edu/admissions/guide/ www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 31 ‘We were the last car out of Pepperwood’ The 1964 flood was a before school started, was going to flood. They gotta get outta here!” got to us, there was no dig around for whatever terrible experience for I worked in the fields evacuated, and even Thank God the phone time to pack anything, I could find, and then me. I was 16 years old picking tomatoes, string the older couple by us lines were still work- and all we could do was said, “You had better and living in Pepper- beans, corn and cucum- eventually evacuated, ing, as we called my climb in the cab of the look out for snakes!” wood. We lived by the bers. I used the money till everyone was gone dad’s brother who lived truck and drive out of I about jump out of my old Highway 101, which I earned to buy school — except us. With our in Fortuna and told him there. We didn’t even skin when he said that, ran through the Avenue clothes and school sup- flashlights, the lady what was going on. Both have the sense to take and didn’t want to do of the Giants and Staf- plies. I lived with my next door and I watched he and his wife came, our clothes! The water any more digging’. From ford. It was a little mom and dad, and my mom the water come up the driving a flatbed truck, wasn’t quite yet on the then on, I used a stick town that was known for had been battling throat field towards the main with the idea we could road as we drove, but we to dig around. You could producing vegetables. cancer for about a year road. We put a stick in pack up everything and knew it was coming. We see pieces of our furni- We used to walk to the when the flood came. the ground, and would bring it with us. They were the last car out ture, all in pieces, and river during the summer, I remember how much go back every hour, and just made it through of Pepperwood. We got to everything was covered which was about a couple it rained that Decem- it was gone! Each time Pepperwood as the cops Fortuna around 12:30 in in mud. It was awful to of miles across the main ber, and how warm it we went back, the stick were closing the road the morning. It was a see everything so dis- highway and down the was. It was miserable! was gone, and we knew we and turning everyone very scary experience. torted. I think I can bank. Most of the time, The rivers kept going were in trouble. It was back. They only reason When it was over and still smell that mud! during the winter, the up and up, and everyone rising at least a foot they let them through they allowed us all All I was able to get river would rise, but had a terrible feel- an hour! I will never is because my uncle told back, my dad and I went were some dishes. would stay in its banks. ing the river was going forget that feeling! It them we were about to back to the house to try Things never got bet- During the 1955 flood, to flood. The sheriff sounds like that’s too be flooded and he was to get some of our pos- ter for a long time. We I was living in a house came through town tell- fast, but it wasn’t. going to rescue us. The sessions. Our house was had to put my mother in right across the street ing people to evacuate, You can’t imagine what first thing we did was one of the few that hung the hospital the day from my 1964 house and but they never came to it was like to see that try to get everything we together. The front before we were flooded the river rose up under our house. Late that water rise. When we woke could up on the refrig- porch had been washed out, and she died seven that house, but not in night, a neighbor came up my dad, we showed him erator, but there just away, and inside, it was weeks later. it. by and told us to evacu- our sticks, and all he wasn’t time to do much full of stinky silt and — Gloria Rowe (Gordon), During the summers ate because the river could say was, “Damn! We else. By the time they mud. My dad sent me in to For t u n a

32 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 Friendship amid the devastation I lived at the air- communicated with the port apartments (now military, and I did torn down). The gov- what I could to help ernment flew the mili- — they were great. tary in to help where They were here about needed. a week. The church, McKinleyville was Grace Good Shepherd in cut off from both McKinleyville, also north and south, so took them in. We made they couldn’t go in friends with them, and any direction. I had stayed friends for four bedrooms and two many years. baths, so I gave them — Jan Perris, a place to stay. They McKinleyville One father’s flood journey

My father was a con- had enough food with him ductor on the North- to feed an army. western Pacific Rail- We waited to cele- road and worked on the brate Christmas until freight train. He was he finally got home, a 40-year employee and by Greyhound bus, some nearing retirement. He days later. He was car- and his crew were on rying the old lunch the last freight train sack with the empty to get through the Eel food containers in it River Canyon on the run — and his grip full of from Eureka to Willits dirty clothes. He talk- before, as he put it, ed about how high the the railroad slid into water had been. But his the river behind them. best story was about all The crew was stuck in the railroad “brass” Willits and were tem- who had arrived in Wil- porarily housed in the lits to meet about the local hotel by the rail- flood damage and assess road. I remember that my the situation. He was father, who was hard of called into that meet- hearing, phoned home. He ing. He had ridden the simply wanted my mother route for 30 years and to know he had written knew every inch of track a check to cover ex- and tunnel. He said he penses and to make sure told them what he had she would keep enough seen and what the route money available for him and terrain were like to use. My mother al- all along the track. I ways packed a huge lunch really think that was for him when he went to the highlight of his It was more than a week after the flooding began before work, and he carried a long career — the only anyone could reach Weott. The building askew was the leather grip of cloth- time he ever got to tell community’s post office. ing for changing “just his bosses what to do. in case.” She asked if — Mary McCutcheon, he was OK. He replied he Eureka www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 33 Downed missions 11 lost in ‘64 flood helicopter crashes Former county supervisor, longtime dairyman among the victims

HEATHER SHELTON the Humboldt County Nininger was one of [email protected] The Times-Standard Fairgrounds. the servicemen on the At some point that day, Coast Guard helicopter, Eleven people died in Arnold “Bud” Hansen, a recounted in a Decem- two separate helicopter dairyman from the Cen- ber 2011 Times-Standard crashes during the De- terville area near Fern- “My Word” article what cember 1964 flood. Most dale who knew the area happened throughout of those killed gave their well, volunteered to join the afternoon of Dec. 22, lives trying to rescue oth- the helicopter crew as a leading up to the craft’s ers from the devastating volunteer spotter. final flight. effects of the raging wa- “I had a brother-in-law “The crew ran sorties ters. who worked on a dairy all day, picking up farm- Dec. 22 in the lowlands. He got ers and their families U.S. Coast Guard he- stranded in the flood and from rooftops in the vi- licopter 1363 was dis- (they) couldn’t get to him cinity of Ferndale and patched from U.S. Coast in the boat,” said Griz- dropping them in safety Guard Air Station San zly Bluff resident Jerry at the Humboldt Coun- Francisco on the morn- Hansen, Bud Hansen’s ty Fairgrounds,” Wells ing of Dec. 22, 1964, son, in a recent phone wrote. “Dozens of lives to assist victims of the interview. “Dad got into were saved thanks to Humboldt County flood. the (helicopter) to try to their tireless efforts.” On board the craft help him and help other Tragically, Wells wrote, HELICOPTER CRASH Military personnel, sheriff’s were crew members people.” the last rescue trip went deputies and volunteers reach the wreckage of a Coast Guard pilot Lt. Though they weren’t awry. Coast Guard helicopter four days after it crashed on Donald Prince of San able to get to Jerry Han- “The storm,” he wrote, the night of Dec. 22, 1964. Four Ferndale residents Mateo, co-pilot Sub Lt. sen’s brother-in-law, the “had continued unabat- and three crewmen died. The crash occurred inland Allen Alltree of the Royal helicopter crew was able ed throughout the day, from Big Lagoon and Trinidad. On Dec. 26, a UH34D Canadian Navy and Avia- to make one final rescue and as the sun sank, the Marine helicopter crashed into the Eel River at Mc- tion Electrician 2 James that day. Marie Bahnsen, high winds, heavy rain Cann killing four. One person survived. The helicopter Nininger Jr., also with Bette (also written as and poor visibility com- was from the carrier USS Bennington stationed three the Coast Guard. miles off the entrance of Humboldt Bay. Betty in some newspaper bined to make their fi- According to accounts accounts) Kempf and her nal extraction long and in the December 1964 20-month-old daughter arduous. They collected Humboldt Times and Melanie, all of Ferndale, two women and a baby Humboldt Standard, the were lifted from their from the last farmhouse helicopter spent most of flooded homes onto the despite the harsh con- the day helping evacuate copter in the early part ditions, but this time, stranded residents in the of the evening. rather than stopping at Eel River bottoms area, David Nininger Wells, the fairgrounds, they bringing them from roof- whose father James made straight for the Ar- tops to a staging area at 34 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 cata Airport (in McKin- was just 6 months old challenging it is to fly on photographic mission in Beach, were on board was treated at Redwood leyville). when his father died, re- the North Coast of Cali- Southern Humboldt on the helicopter along with Memorial Hospital in “Unfortunately, the called in the Times-Stan- fornia and how even a Dec. 26 when it hit a tele- Ervin “Bunny” Hadley Fortuna and returned to storm had taken out the dard “My Word.” highly experienced crew phone line and plunged of Eureka. Hadley, who his post on the USS Ben- power at Arcata; hence The flight crew re- can be overwhelmed. into a deep section of the was a prominent local nington. the navigational beacon ceived Air Medals post- “Today, we train ex- Eel River at McCann, a businessman, held the About a month-and-a- was out of service,” Wells humously for merito- tensively on inclement few miles east of Weott. rank of major in the Civil half after the air tragedy, wrote. “They headed to- rious achievement in weather procedures, The copter had taken off Air Patrol and was com- a military salvage crew ward what they believed aerial flight, said Lt. Bri- instrument flight navi- that morning from Mur- mander of the local Civil from the San Francisco was the light beacon only an Ward, external affairs gation and flying unex- ray Field in Eureka. Air Patrol squadron. The area traveled to the crash to find it was the Trini- officer with U.S. Coast pectedly into poor or It carried a crew of former Humboldt Coun- site to begin recovery op- dad lighthouse. After Guard Sector Humboldt low visibility conditions,” three Marines from ty supervisor was also an erations. receiving radar vectors Bay, in a recent email in- Ward said. “Our current the aircraft carrier USS accomplished pilot who In a poignant Dec. 29, from the airport, they terview. helicopters are vastly Bennington, which had had flown in dozens of 1964 editorial, the Hum- turned back toward Ar- “In October 1998, Mr. more advanced and ca- made its way to the search-and-rescue mis- boldt Standard remem- cata (Airport), but never Bud Hansen was award- pable than their 1964 North Coast to offer sions through the years. bered those lost in the made it.” ed the Meritorious Pub- HH-52 predecessors. flood support. First Lt. All the men on board helicopter crashes, stat- The craft went down lic Service Award post- We believe that a highly William Arbogast of San- the craft, except for the ing, “It is tragic enough about 6:30 p.m. in heavy humously for his selfless trained and prepared ta Ana, Corp. Joseph Bin- pilot, died in the crash. when people die in the timberland several miles act of heroism, in put- crew is the best way to kley (also called Kinkley, According to a Dec. 28, great disasters such as inland from Patrick’s ting his neighbor’s inter- handle these conditions.” Kingley and Brinkley in 1964 Humboldt Times that from which Hum- Points, est above his own,” Ward Dec. 26 local media accounts) of article, Gleason – who boldt County is now “All aboard were lost said. Another helicopter Torrance and pilot Capt. suffered moderate inju- emerging, but it is even in forest so thick that Ward said even to- crashed a few days after Richard Gleason of Tus- ries – was rescued by an more tragic when they it took days for the res- day the helicopter crash Coast Guard 1363 went tin, as well as U.S. Navy Army helicopter down- die in efforts to help oth- cue parties to locate the serves as an important down. A U.S. Marine Photographer’s Mate 1-C stream from where the ers.” wreckage,” Wells, who reminder about how Corps craft was on a Alonzo Slaughter of Long copter went down. He

www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 35 ramp places the road was washed out. I would fol- low and clean the road behind him. Took us about two days to open roads to one-lane traf- fic. As we worked out way around the valley, we saw cows locked up in the barns, drowned. About four or five days later, the water receded and the state opened the road to Fern- dale. This was the only way to get to Rio Dell or Highway 101 north. It was about another week before the Grizzly Bluff washout was re- paired, so all traffic had to go over Wymouth Bluff Road. We had high- way patrolmen at both ends. Traffic would al- ternate going through. The road had two soft and mushy spots, so af- ter each traffic would go through, I would blade and smooth spots. Sometimes trucks would get stuck and I would have to pull him out. The road was open This aerial photograph of the Weott community was taken on the morning of Dec. 23. from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. We worked seven days a week and 12-hour days. The first day off we had was Lincoln’s birthday, Working to clear the road, help the stranded Feb. 12. Electricity was re- I worked as a heavy 2 miles. A truck I had the maintenance sta- Nilsen Co. building to the fairgrounds. stored about a week af- equipment operator for let by came back and tion. Some of the crew is now. The hazard for That’s where flooded- ter the flood. Every- Humboldt County Road said there was a slide took dump trucks and boats was logs, trees out people went to, and thing was flown into the Department, Ferndale blocking the road about went out in parts on the and barbwire fences. the cows that could be fairgrounds by helicop- area. a mile up the road. I valley to pick up people Most boats had wire cut- saved were there also. ter. We had two young I was called out at 6 went up and finally got as the low spots had too ters with them. Most of The Ferndale highway children, so they would a.m., Dec. 21, 1964. I a one-lane road open. I much water for cars to the boats were 12 to 14 was washed out. Highway get milk each day plus was sent to Blue Slide kept going up the hill, go through. Late after- feet. One boat left late 101 bridges gone. End other supplies. Many Road to push out a slide threw tree limbs off the noon my boss asked if afternoon to pick up of bridge at Rio Dell people went to the fair- blocking the road with roadway and opened a I would go out wading. members of Brugga fam- washed out. grounds to eat. We had a the road grader. I pushed couple ditches and some Two people wanted out. ily in the camp in the The Grizzly Bluff wood cook stove, which a one-lane road through. culvert. The low swell at Coffee Weott area. They picked Road was washed out by gave us hot water, and There were trees in the I finally made it to Creek was too deep for up the people at the the river north of Price we could cook our meals. slide, but I had no Bunker Hill and met some dump trucks. When I went house. They were having Creek. They only road to An aircraft carrier chainsaw. It was rain- cars coming from Petro- through, the water was motor trouble and it was Rio Dell was by Wymouth was anchored off the ing very hard. Water was lia, so I knew the road about six inches below raining hard with wind, Bluff Road. This was a coast and the helicop- sheeting off the banks. was open. So I headed the cab of the grader. so they rowed to a barn narrow one-lane road. ters came from there. Some of the crew showed back down and met a cou- I picked up the lady. and spent the night in About three days after Hay was also brought in up to remove the trees. ple crew guys checking Her husband refused to the hay mow. They came the flood a T.D. 25 Cat. to feed the cows at the I was told to go back roads in a pickup. As I come out. When I came out the next day. was brought over from fairgrounds. In Loleta to Ferndale and head went down, I worked on back through the water Ferndale was iso- Rio Dell. I followed Bottoms, some cows were up Wildcat Road. There the slides some more. was hitting the bottom lated, no electric- him with the grader. We stranded on some high were several slides in When I got to the sand of the cab (the cab is ity, but we ate good. went through the valley ground. Hay was also the roadway above Fern- cut above Ferndale, about 4 feet high). All the freezers thawed opening roads. The cat dropped to them. dale. I cleared several I saw the valley was Boats were being out, so we shared what would push logs and de- — Lee (Pete) Tomasini, slides in thin the first flooded. I returned to launched where the new we could. The rest went bris off the road, would retired, Ferndale 36 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 ‘Everything would change forever’ My name is Kathy (Mi- nuns in the convent ... their houses by lowering Head, killing everyone knowing full well that if who had stayed behind at randa) Hayes and this is a prospect none of us a basket to an upstairs on board including the we get hit with a red- the ranch to take care my family’s story and ex- wanted to think about. My window and hoisting them crew and everyone they wood tree or any kind of of the farm animals and periences living through father knew we would have into the chopper. We had rescued. debris in the water it’s our livelihood, at least the 1964 Thousand-Year to re-navigate the flood watched as best we could The next day, with wa- all over. Scary to say what was left of it. Flood. waters to return to our through the downpour of ter covering the down- the least! I could go on and on When I was 12 years ranch house and we would rain and wind until the stairs of our ranch Now, for another fun- reminiscing about the old, my father decided to be cut off for a period of chopper reached the cor- house and all of us up- ny memory. My younger events surrounding the move our family (all 12 time, but I don’t think ner of our Victorian ranch stairs looking out the brother Tom grew up hat- 1964 flood and how that of us) from a small dairy he had any idea how dra- house. Now it’s our turn window wondering what’s ing cheese. He absolutely experience changed my located in the metropol- matically different this to get into the basket going to happen next, refused to eat cheese of life and the lives of my itan area near Rio Dell flood event would be. and be taken to safety. we could see the raging any kind, and of course, family members. They say to a much larger dairy The water just kept As the Coast Guard crew flood waters of the river as siblings often do, we most people have one or located in the Ferndale rising and rising and struggled to keep the with all of its debris always played tricks on two defining moments in valley. We moved in early rising, and it just kept chopper stable enough to and redwood trees, im- Tom to try to get him to their life. The trick is 1964 and little did we storming and storm- lower the basket to us, I pacting the bridge pil- eat cheese. Here’s the to recognize it. This was know, in December of that ing, with wind and heavy remember my father say- lars of Fernbridge. The funny part: When we were definitely one of mine. I same year, everything rain non-stop. It got ing to my mother, all of sound was so loud that traveling across the remember it like it was would change forever. to a point where my fa- you will go on the chop- it sounded like dynamite Eel River being rescued yesterday, and I’m 62 Leading up to the actu- ther went (in the dark) by Civil Defense they years old. al event and the flooding and took our wooden ply- had little lunch boxes Out of tragedy and dev- was nothing short of the wood boat from the shed that volunteers had pre- astation, there is always “perfect storm.” Storm and motored over in the Out of tragedy and pared to give to all of something positive that after winter storm, rising flood water to us knowing we probably can be found. For my fam- dumping foot after foot the neighbor’s house hadn’t eaten anything in ily ... I can’t believe of snow in the mountains, to retrieve the neigh- devastation, there is always awhile. Tom, complain- how incredibly lucky we historical rainfall and bors, his hired hand and ing that he was starved, were! then the “Pineapple Ex- his wife, who was nine something positive that can couldn’t wait to open The house we were in press,” warm rains melt- months pregnant, because his lunch box. It was a didn’t leave its founda- ing all that snow into the he felt our location was be found. For my family... cheese sandwich. Need- tion and we weren’t swept rivers with nowhere for safer than the house they less to say, he didn’t to sea ... we all sur- all that water to go but were in. And yes, the wa- I can’t believe how eat it and said he wasn’t vived. overflowing the banks of ter just kept rising. The hungry. Funny, don’t you We didn’t get on that those rivers in unimagi- ranch house we were in incredibly lucky we were! think? ill-fated Coast Guard nable proportions. was a 200 year-old Vic- Finally, safely on dry helicopter — how lucky The dairy we lived on torian with an upstairs ground in Fortuna, and was that? Even though in the Ferndale valley (believe it or not, it staying with my mother’s we didn’t know it at the is located just south still stands to this day) Great Aunt, Louise Gar- time! of Fernbridge on the and we could see the wa- per and I will stay with going off ... the redwood celon, the word spread All of our dairy ani- Ferndale side of High- ter creeping closer and the animals (we had 100 trees and debris hitting quickly among the many mals survived and weren’t way 101 and is situated closer from the upstairs head of cattle locked the bridge and piling up. news organizations that drowned in the flood wa- on a bit of a plateau windows until finally in the barn, a place my However, the old girl this very large family of ters. Many other ranch- (my two brothers still the water started flow- father thought was the wasn’t about to give in 12 (including 5 sisters ers weren’t so lucky. dairy there today). The ing into the house. We safest place for them to to the raging flood wa- and 5 brothers) had sur- And, finally, the in- problem lies in that the would ultimately end up ride out the flood). Un- ters (she’s still stand- vived the great thousand- credible strength and buildings, including the with 7 to 10 feet of water fortunately, after about ing to this day). Says year flood and everyone will of my parents to ranch house, get cut off in the house with all of half an hour of trying something about the art wanted to interview us pick themselves up time on both ends of the ranch us including the neigh- to lower the basket and of bridge-building back about the experience. after time after having when high water blocks bors upstairs. I remem- fighting the tremendous then, don’t you think? I’m not sure how it all gone through the 1955 the roadway. This is ex- ber hearing my father winds and rain, the Coast Finally, it stopped got arranged but NBC news flood, a fire that burned actly what happened when whisper his concerns to Guard helicopter left raining, the river sent Terry Drinkwater our Victorian home to the the water was rising dur- my mother about the house without picking any of crested, the flood wa- and a news crew from New ground and destroyed ev- ing the 1964 flood event. staying on its founda- us up. We thought they ters began to recede from York City — he was a big erything we owned, and In fact, a particular- tion or being washed to would just land on the our house, and Civil De- shot news anchor at the then the 1964 thousand- ly funny memory comes the sea with all of us 101 Highway above Fern- fense volunteers were time — to interview us. year flood. Says some- to mind. If my parents in it. bridge, offload everyone finally able to reach I don’t think as children thing about the true grit hadn’t been able to navi- And, then, as it was they had rescued and re- us by crossing the flood we realized the impor- and will of the human gate the rising flood wa- getting dark we saw turn. Little did we know waters of the Eel River tance of this interview spirit ... . ters to come and get us lights in the sky at the that Coast Guard heli- in motor boats. Mmm ... and that we were being — Kathy Hayes, admin- from school (Assumption neighbor’s ranch and re- copter became disorient- now we get to cross back watched on national TV istrative support manager/ Parochial School), we alized it was the Coast ed because of the weather across the raging flood around the world. But, my clerk of the board, Humboldt would have had to spend Guard helicopter try- and crashed in the moun- waters of the Eel Riv- mother knew. She was just County several weeks with the ing to rescue folks from tains above Trinidad er in those motor boats worried about my father www.times-standard.com The Flood of 1964 37 water was rising rap- were rapidly being cov- worse off than we were. idly and we needed to ered with flood water, What a feeling of help- move the cows. Joe lived and the “island” with the lessness. All the snow in the “Flynn Place” buildings kept shrink- pack in the mountains house, also located on ing. I remember think- was being melted by the Witman Lane about one ing how wise it was that warm “” half-mile from my par- the “old timers” always storm, coupled with the ent’s home place; my dad put the house and barn at many inches of rainfall; and Joe were partners in the highest spot on the it was creating the “per- the dairy and had leased property; I hadn’t real- fect storm” and the 1,000 the “Flynn Place.” They ly thought about that be- year flood. milked the cows in the fore, but it became very By now the electric Flynn barn, so the cows apparent and was much ap- power was off and the were housed in the storm preciated. telephone lines were shed adjacent to the Mom, my sister Eileen down. Communication with milk barn. and I were stranded along the “outside world” was The Flynn place was at with 100 or so animals. reduced to listening on a lower elevation than The water was rising the car radio for what- the home place, so we de- at a fierce pace as was ever information we cided to move the cows our anxiety level. The could get. The informa- across the gravel lane slough behind the barn tion was sporadic and in- to the higher ground was a remnant of the complete; it always left (about 10 feet higher). Salt River, and at flood many more questions than We had to hurry, since time overflow from the it answered. This was a there was a wooden bridge Eel River transformed catastrophe of huge pro- over a creek that we had the slough into the Salt portions. to cross, and the bridge River again. It wasn’t Trying to deal with could float away at any long before buildings, feeding the animals and time (it did lift up a debris and animals were milking the cows became a few hours later, but had floating by. I was able major challenge. With no to be rebuilt). It was to coax several cows and milking machines, I had ‘The devastation raining hard, and the young stock close enough to resort to hand milk- warm southern wind was to shore where I was able ing. I was not very good blowing 50-plus miles to get a rope on them and at it. I picked out the per hour, but we got most pull them to safety. Not cows that needed milk- was immense’ of the animals to safety. all were saved, however. ing the most and con- After the cows were The riverbank behind centrated on them. Many moved, Joe went back to the house sloping down were milked once a day or his house to take care to the slough was pret- less. Fortunately, many Pre-flood: I had just south. This was in con- over to Jerry Gonsalves’ of his family, including ty steep. I would put a of the cows at that time returned from college, trast to a rather cold place; he lived just off four little kids. My dad stick into the bank at were on a cycle where Cal Poly — San Luis Obis- and snowy November and the Ferndale highway, and other brother Phil, water’s edge, and then they would have a calf in po, for Christmas break. early December, with near the “Old River” his wife, Harlean, and check it again in about the spring, be lactating On the evening of Dec. heavy snow pack in the bridges. We stopped at family were on a trip to an hour. It was shock- through summer and fall, 20, 1964, several of the local hills and moun- one of the bridges, and British Columbia visit- ing how quickly the stick and then would “dry up” “Class of ’61” Ferndale tains. were shocked that the ing Harlean’s parents, would disappear. Look- around the first of the High graduates decided After a few hours of water level had risen Jay and June Brown; I was ing to the north across year. This would give the to meet at the Palace playing poker and a to the bottom of the responsible to look af- the Eel River Valley, cow a couple of months of bar in town for a mini- “couple” of beers, we bridge; we all hurried ter the herd. There were the entire expanse of a rest before starting the reunion. We had just became rather concerned to our homes for some a lot more animals than few miles had become a next lactation when the turned 21 that year, and about the howling winds restless sleep. the barn could hold, so massive lake with white- calf was born. That cycle the Palace beckoned. and heavy rain; it was Dec. 21: Early the animals were everywhere, caps whipped up by the gave me some breathing It was a stormy night. time to leave just in morning of December 21, including the front relentless wind. I had room on which cows had to The wind was warm and case it might flood. On my brother Joe phoned yard, and had to be fed great fear for friends be milked. Not all were blowing hard from the the way home, we drove from his house that the in shifts. The fields and neighbors who were on that cycle, however.

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707.677.3777 TrinidadEatery.com 38 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964 Since the power was so air travel was the area. out, most work had to be only option. He flew Don Jaunarena from Bear done during the short, into the airport, and River, also home from Cal winter daylight hours. I then hitched a ride on a Poly, walked in to our can’t remember having an helicopter that dropped place to lend a hand. He Connecting to the abundance of flashlight him off right next to our stayed several days, and batteries; that didn’t house. He was shocked at was a great help. help. The animals had to the devastation that he We were now able to take outside world be taken care of while it could see from the air. inventory of the damage. was light enough to see; Another shock was that The Flynn barn had ma- December of 1964 was tion they were headed. ian and military air- the dark storm clouds his National Milk Pro- jor damage that would the beginning of one of I remember three of us craft at McKinleyville didn’t help either. duction Record holder take several months to the worst floods ever loading a U.S. Navy Airport actually ex- Exhausted, we went to Jersey Cow, Challeng- repair. All tractors and to hit Humboldt County C-54 cargo plane bound ceeded air traffic at bed early that night, er’s Joyce, was seri- equipment stored in the with rain and wind still ously sick with a mas- tractor shed were com- and Northern Califor- for Alameda Naval Sta- Chicago’s O’Hare, the howling. We could hear titis infection. We had pletely under water, and nia. For days, we were tion after dark on busiest airport in the the water lapping up to no antibiotics on hand, required major repair. isolated from the rest Christmas Eve. We were nation at that time. In the edge of the back of they were all underwa- The water had gone over of the world, except by working in a dimly lit addition, Murray Field the house. ter in the milk barn at the top of the pickup air. Working as the as- trailer, passing mail was the operations cen- Dec. 22: The flood wa- the Flynn place, and it parked in front of Joe’s sistant superintendent to the air crew. There ter for the U.S. Marine ter crested during the was impossible to get out house. I had a flock of of mails at the Eureka was more mail than the helicopters from the night, and was begin- for veterinary help. She Dorset sheep that were in Post Office, I was as- available planes could aircraft carrier U.S.S. ning to fall by daylight died from the infection, a pasture behind Joe’s signed to coordinate handle so consequently Bennington stationed but was still perilously and was later buried at house. They were found the arrival and depar- we had a back-log of off the coast of Hum- high. the Fairgrounds in Fern- in a heap in the corner ture of mail for the as many as six loaded, boldt and Rohnerville That day was a swirl of dale. She had just had of the field. One lamb “955” area, spending 11 20-foot highway vans Airport was being used trying to deal with all a baby calf a few days somehow got in Joe’s days at the Eureka-Ar- parked at the airport. by helicopters from the the needs of the animals. before the flood, and house and survived; I’m cata Airport. The plan After Christmas Day, U.S. Army. Many of the I guess there was a kind when she walked through still not sure how he got was to send and receive more military planes pilots were veterans of of shock at the devas- cold, dirty water there in there. His house had mail on every avail- became available. They the Vietnam conflict tation that was unfold- is little doubt that the substantial water dam- able military aircraft. were C-119 cargo planed and had flown in haz- ing; it was hard to fath- filthy water contribut- age, with water over the I set up a liaison with also known as “flying ardous combat condi- om. Radio reports were ed to the infection. I kitchen sink. All down- the officer in charge of boxcars” and were fly- tions but none of them frightening. There were carried her calf (later stairs furniture was de- reports of a rescue heli- named Rejoyce) to higher stroyed. the flight operations. ing out of Sacramen- had ever flown in such copter crashing killing ground; she went on to Many of the replacement Cordless phones and to. After several more hazardous weather con- many neighbors which was be a champion in her own young stock that were cell phones were non- days, U.S. Army CV-2 ditions as existed here a major blow. I was later right. pastured at the Pleasant existent so I had to “Caribou” cargo in Northern California. to learn that same Coast One other note rela- Point ranch (about four use runners between planes arrived from I had a lot to be Guard helicopter hovered tive to “Joyce”: She had miles east of the home the flight line and Georgia. After emergen- thankful for that over my friend Jerry’s a yearling son that was place where Phil lived) the command post lo- cy flights into the out- Christmas, as I do ev- barn, calling for him tethered behind the barn had washed away and were cated at the base of lying areas plus drop- ery Christmas. I had to come out and be res- at the Flynn place. When lost. All fences were the control tower. Most ping feed for starving a job, a family and a cued. He was trapped in we moved the herd to the gone, and pastures were of my orders from the cattle, these cargo home intact while some the barn trying to save home place, the bull was covered with silt and Eureka Post Office, as planes became available people in the outly- their cows. He was on top overlooked. When Joe dis- driftwood. Fortunately, well as my reports to to fly mail into the ing areas of the county of the haystack, with all covered the bull, it was Phil’s house only had wa- Eureka were handled in airports in Garberville suffered loss of family of the exit doors under- too late to get out, so ter in the garage and not this manner. The pi- and Crescent City. I members plus both real water. Not being able he loaded him in the back the house. lot of every incoming accompanied the first and personal property. to get out, the heli- of the pickup with cat- Dec. 25: We walked up military aircraft was load of mail into each Let us hope that we copter finally made its tle racks that was parked to Grizzly Bluff Road and contacted and asked if airport. The flights will never have another way down the highway to in front of his house to got a ride into town for there would be any room were rough due to the storm of that magnitude pick up several of his ride out the flood. When Christmas Mass, thank- for sacks of mail, no extremity of the weath- again. neighbors; that helicop- it got dark the night of ful for what we still had — Fred Nelson, Eureka ter crashed soon after, the 21st, the bull was left. matter in which direc- er. The combined civil- killing all aboard. still OK, but during the The devastation was Dec. 23: At this point, night at the high water immense; the loss of life the time line of events point, the bull floated and livestock overwhelm- becomes kind of hazy. out of the truck; he was ing. The recovery period Hearing of the disas- later found in the debris took years, and I believe ter in Humboldt County, in the flooded barn. some never completely Supply run reached Dad had to hire a pri- Dec. 24: On the 23rd recovered. One small vate plane to get him or 24th, a helicopter silver lining was that its destination back into our area. Con- stopped by to deliver a the community came to- ditions were so bad the gas-powered generator. gether to help each other I remember driving water was very high items to their destina- pilot used the Pacific We were able to get a in ways that did not ex- with my mother, Jeanne and rushing under the tion. (My mother just coastline to guide him milking machine opera- ist before this tragedy; Johnson Nash, to take bridge, and I remember died weeks ago at age toward home. Eventually, tional to help with the they were their own ver- boxes of supplies and feeling scared. I don’t 92, or I would ask for they flew into Rohnerv- milking. I think that sion of FEMA! clothing across the have any more details, more information from — John Regli, Sutter Creek, ille airport. All major delivery was coordinated Ferndale Bridge. She since I was only 8, but her.) wrote this for a family history roads in and out of Hum- through C.Jo Hindley who was nervous, as the we did get the donated — Jan Nash Hunt boldt Co. were closed was the disaster coordi- book in 2010 mostly due to roadways nator (and Humboldt Co. andwww.times-standard.com bridges washed away, Fair Manager) for the The Flood of 1964 39 Established in 1962, Pierson’s has served the communities of Humboldt County for over 50 years! As a locally owned and operated business, we continue to build on our tradition by offering our customers the excellent service and quality products they need to complete all their home improvement projects.

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40 Times-Standard The Flood of 1964