[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 116 (Tuesday, August 3, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FREMONT COUNTY, WYOMING

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, a good measure of the strength of a 
community is how they come together in a crisis. From June 4 to June 
18, 2010, Fremont County, WY, experienced a 100-year flood. The spring 
runoff from the snowpack in the Wind River Mountains was heavier than 
usual, causing the Big Wind, Little Wind and Popo Agie Rivers to reach 
flood stages. Just when the citizens didn't think it could get worse, a 
cold front passed through, with rain and hail in lower elevations, and 
three to 6 feet of snow in the mountains. Lander, Riverton, Hudson, and 
the Wind River Indian Reservation were all threatened.
  As the flood waters rose, the Fremont County commissioners led by 
Chairman Doug Thompson and Vice Chairman Pat Hickerson along with the 
Joint Tribal Councils chaired by Ivan Posey and Harvey Spoonhunter came 
together to request a disaster designation from Wyoming's Governor Dave 
Freudenthal.
  As the 32 square miles of Fremont County were threatened by flood, 
the citizens rolled up their sleeves and worked together to protect 
life, livestock, and property. Under the steady guidance of incident 
commander, Craig Haslam, along with Joe Moore from Wyoming Homeland 
Security, 52 local, county, State and Federal agencies coordinated 
flood mitigation efforts. According to Fremont County resident Bill 
Sniffin, it was the biggest disaster effort of its type in Wyoming's 
history.
  It was inspiring to see Wyoming's National Guard working side-by-side 
with the Fremont County folks. The 400 soldiers, under the command of 
General Edward Wright and Colonel Luke Reiner, bagged sand, transported 
folks from houses, and were at the ready for whatever the community 
needed. Christian Venhuizen, at the Wyoming National Guard Public 
Affairs, served as information officer keeping the public and media 
informed throughout the entire flood.
  Kathi Metzler, director of Fremont County Emergency Management, and 
her assistant Vonda Huish opened a temporary office so they could 
manage the logistics that is part and parcel with coordinating so many 
different agencies. It was comforting having Kathi and Vonda close by 
to orchestrate the flurry of activity.
  We can only estimate the number of hours volunteers devoted to 
keeping the flood waters at bay. Some estimate 35,000 hours, others say 
it might be up to 50,000 hours. Almost a half million sandbags were 
filled. Folks donated their pickups and trailers to haul property and 
livestock to higher ground. This is quite an investment for a county 
with only 36,000 people.
  While the help of the government agencies was so important, neighbors 
helping neighbors kept damage to a minimum. Jim Buline and his son 
Robert, Lee Hansen and his son Jace, Travis Becker and his son Lars are 
a few of the many neighbors and friends who helped Charlie and Linda 
Griffin save their home on their historic ranch. Students from Wyoming 
Catholic College devoted all their time to help anyone in need. Jeri 
Trebelock and her staff from the Popo Agie Conservation District 
organized and worked with volunteers for bank stabilization to protect 
the Hunhke and Guschewsky homes as well as a mobile home park. In 
addition, all the Popo Estates landowners came together helping each 
other with sandbagging to protect their homes. These are just a few 
examples of the community spirit demonstrated by the folks in Fremont 
County.
  On Thursday, August 5, 2010, folks from Fremont County will gather at 
Mr. D's Grocery Store for a ``We Survived the Flood of 2010'' party. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the citizens of Fremont 
County and the 52 local, State, and Federal agencies for a job well 
done.

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