This was a very intense week. I am exhausted; we were on pr-evac alert all week. I had my 90 year old father, his meds and oxygen all packed and ready to go. He was not in a state of mind or health to go anywhere and just wanted to stay in bed. To get out of the smoke, I finally I talked him into going to Hagerman for a night. He hated it and demanded to be brought home immediately. The Valley is now slowly coming back to life and it has been announced that Wagon Days is on. The fire fighters did a miraculous job saving our homes and Valley from being burned off the face of the map. They have received numerous thank yous from all and have been well compensated for doing what they have chosen to do. Thank god that there are people out there willing to do this kind of work. But now, what is needed is a focus on the local citizens that have been traumatized and the economic disaster that this fire represents. Any emotional support, healing and love you can give to your neighbors and friends is appropriate. In a few years the flora will grow back and it will be more beautiful and diverse than before. Humans will heal and go about their lives. The true disaster is economic and could be far reaching. An already weak and difficult real-estate market has gone from meager activity to zero. The retail and the service sector which relies on this moth to stay in business has been hit hard. Needless to say the tourist dollar that affords so many of us our living and that we relied on to get through slack left town as quick as it could. Large important economic events and groups such as the Writers Conference and the Danny Thomas Golf Tournament canceled and are now considering not booking here agin in August. I have personal friends who have decided from now on they will go elsewhere in August. Already tight budgets from repeated fires, global recessions, and lack of adequate air service coupled with the Beaver Creek Fire just may prove to be too much to shoulder for many local business and individuals. If you love the Wood River Valley and what it represents please do all that you can to support us. Shop locally, help us rebuild or image, assist in new economic initiatives, and get involved in marketing efforts both politically and individually. This is still and will always be and amazing community and a healing experience for all who visit and live here… don’t let it die a slow economic death. Please pass this along and get involved in economic rebuilding at all levels so that we can continue to offer the services and experiences we love so deeply to all who visit. Love you all and thank you for you all your well wishes. The attached video shows a little bit of what we went through. Nick
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 07:39:03 +0000
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