Lane County School And ESD Superintendents Express Gratitude To Organizations And Individuals For Their Storm Recovery Efforts - 01/26/24

The Superintendents of Lane County’s seventeen school and educational service districts, are writing to thank the organizations and individuals who have led and supported storm recovery efforts. 

Last week’s multiple rounds of ice and freezing rain caused widespread damage to trees, roads, and property at homes, businesses, and campuses.  Most areas faced power outages, several thousand for days on end, with some expected to be without power for another week.  Most schools were canceled for the week, some longer.  Pictures of damage across the region made the call for a state of emergency apparent.  And, yet, within a week, thanks to the labor of so many, we are nearing a return to normalcy. 

To our utility companies: Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op, Central Lincoln PUD, Emerald People’s Utility District, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Lane Electric, and Springfield Utility Board, thank you!  Your crews worked early morning to late night in dangerous conditions to identify outages and to strategically repair and rebuild lines.  Your line crews often had to clear trees and debris on iced hillsides to start the process of bringing electricity back to our buildings.  Your ongoing communications showed empathy, taught the process, and made tracking progress and maintaining hope easier. 

Thank you to our city, state, and county transportation departments and road crews!  Your teams assessed, triaged, and repaired many landslides, downed trees, branches, and power lines, and floods.  Like the line crews, they were often required to revisit previously cleared areas during the second round of icy rain and then the thaw.  Tripcheck was a valuable resource for those needing to access resources, and your employees stationed at road closures did their best to communicate efforts without overpromising. 

Electrical and road crews coordinated seamlessly, expediting repairs and limiting impact on traffic as roads opened.  Please share our deepest gratitude to your employees and to the mutual aid crews who came from other regions to provide support. We would also like to acknowledge the locals, especially in rural areas, who showed up with chainsaws and equipment to safely clear initial paths for locals to connect.  In times of emergency, these efforts allow for checking in and sharing needed resources with elders and others in need. 

Additionally, Lane County Disaster Relief, the American Red Cross, Lane County and its public services departments (including Department of Human Services) have all gone above and beyond to support our communities and coordinate between agencies to provide relief where needed, thank you!.

Finally, to those individuals and organizations who provided and continue to provide shelter, water, firewood, charging stations, generators, hot showers, laundry services, warm food, and caring messages to loved ones, neighbors, and strangers, we see you!   The stories of caring and connection make us proud to work and serve Lane County students and families. 

Thank you all!