December 3, 2007 started out much like any other morning. I arrived to the farm around 3:30 am, which was a new lease that I had with my dad and brother. We started up the farm with a way to get my brother and my feet in the door and on our way to farming on our own. I was 22 years old at the time and I had about 30 of my own milk cows and all of my heifers at the farm. We were milking 77 head total, and had another 100 or so heifers.
We had some record rain fall the day before as well as a huge jump in temperature which caused a lot of snow to melt off. Growing up in the Chehalis River Valley I was used to the occasional flooding and rivers over flowing their banks so I didn’t think much about the high water levels and went about my business getting ready to milk as well as tending to the other early morning farm chores. Soon I noticed that the water had started getting closer and closer to the barns and it seemed like before I knew it I had water in my barns and it just kept coming, and fast. I knew that the farm had a few feet of water in some other serious floods so I knew I needed to get the babies out to higher ground. I was alone at the time and a neighbor, who was my saving grace, came by and offered to help me run the heifers to their neighboring dairy which had never before been flooded. We started moving all of the heifers and soon I was having to swim them out.
It was amazing how much these little girls trusted me. I just wrapped my arms around their necks and they swam right along with me. I even had a few who just rested a head on my shoulder and followed me out. By the time we had the heifers moved we realized that it was going to be impossible to get the milk cows out. We put everything up into the holding pen and parlor, which happened to be 8 to 10ft higher than my barns were. Shutting that gate and swimming away from those girls was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Once I arrived back at my neighbors, the place that had never flooded, there was 2ft in their home. We managed to make ourselves a little to eat and change into some dry clothing before we were forced to take up residence in the second story.
Later that day we ended up having to be rescued by boat out of the second story windows. I knew when we stopped hearing the cows bawling that things were really bad. It was the worse day of my life. While we were being boated out of the valley I saw one of my jerseys trying to climb on top of the roof of my milk house. Not being able to do anything or help her tore me apart. I just had to pray to God that she would be able to make it. We were all taken to a house up the valley for the night. I don’t think any of us slept at all, even though we were worn to the bone. Waiting for the water to recede seemed to take a lifetime. I don’t think anything or anyone could have prepared us for what we were going to be facing when we returned to the farms. It was total and complete devastation.
There were cows, dead, everywhere. They were hanging in trees, from telephone wires, hung up in rafters of the barns. I don’t even think I can compare it to something you would see in a movie. I lost every single cow that was on our farm but one. The only 3 quartered cow we owned, too. She had somehow managed to ride the waters out be being high centered on top of the silage pit. Luckily, on the neighbors farm there was only 4 to 5 feet of water in their barns so a lot of their milk cows made it through, but none of their or my heifers were able to survive. There were a few other dairy farms in that valley who lost all their cows.
It was estimated around 700 cattle total died in that flood as well as many other types of livestock. One sheep creamery lost all but one sheep. It was total devastation everywhere you looked. The outpouring of help that followed that day was amazing. People were showing up in convoys with stock trailers to take the surviving cattle to other farms. People showed up with equipment and shovels to help clean up. I cannot even explain the mud and silt that was left behind. The free stalls all had at least a foot of this thick clay standing in them and they all had to be shoveled by hand. There were strangers everywhere who soon became friends. Red Cross was there giving free meals to everyone working. It was just amazing to see how everyone rallied together to help with clean up. There were farmers donating cattle to my brother and I as well as some of the other farmers in the valley. Their generosity is still not forgotten and today I am still using their genetics in my current milk string.
Unfortunately the farm we were leasing was demolished to the point that we could not return to milk cows again. I was able to get started back farming on my own in 2012 and have built my herd to 130 milk cows and around 100 heifers.
Going through that flood was the hardest thing I have done, but I wouldn’t be the person I am or where I am today if it wasn’t for that experience.
Story of a Washington dairy farmer, Roy. His story is told by his wife Katie. They now have three beautiful kids and up until last week they were living the dream as a first generation dairy farm. Keep a look out for part 2 of their story.
Krista Stauffer
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I cannot even imagine how devastating this must have been! To stop hearing those cows bawling would be one of the hardest things ever. I wanted to cry as I was reading. It’s heartwarming to hear of the generosity of the neighbors and friends who donated animals to help get started up again. I’m sure those folks will never be forgotten!
Wow. I’m crying. The finality of not hearing cows bawling must have been heartrending; I can’t even imagine that pain. But the support following this disaster is heartwarming and cheering. Best wishes to Roy and Katie and family, and thanks for sharing, Krista!
This horrible tragedy would have caused anyone else to call it quits. What a story of tenacity! I’m glad you were able to come back from such a loss. I look forward to reading your next post. –Gary