Four inches of snow covered Dream Morgan Farm at Halfway Creek Ranch in Chehalis, WA on the first weekend in December. Dream Morgan Farm is home to ten Morgan horses, including broodmares, who form the basis for the vision of this intimately owned breeding farm. This highly unusual snow cover was perfect for making a snowman with Lane, Terry and Brinden Johnson’s grandson. However, a late Sunday thaw combined with 13 inches of rain in a 24-hour period would create a catastrophe in this secluded river valley on the banks of Halfway Creek along a tributary of the Chehalis River. Within hours, this most unlikely combination of events contributed to extraordinary flooding throughout this valley.
A decade ago, a fluke rainstorm swept through this valley causing creek flooding barely reaching the first floor of the Johnson’s two-story home and barn. Although the Johnson’s farm was located in this tributary, the area was not designated as a flood plain. The young family was quick to regroup and return to the normalcy typical of their farmstead. That storm was no rival for the flooding that would occur this time.
The rainstorm continued into the night. The pelting rain made their sleep neither deep nor restful. It was now very early in the morning on Monday, December 3rd. Brinden made the decision to move their vehicles to higher ground on the other side of the creek. His incentive was the creek waters now challenging the base of their bridge as seen with his flashlight in the midst of the storm. They surmised that the creek contents would soon overflow onto their land so they frantically began to move critical household contents and furniture to the second floor. Within a half an hour the creek waters found their way onto the first floor of their home.
Terry was suddenly struck by the realization that their Morgans were captives in their stalls within their barn located downhill from their house! At her insistence, they dropped everything to pull on their boots and wade to the barn through rushing waters now thigh high. There was no time to lead the horses individually to a safer location. Instinctively, Terry made Scandia’s Paprika the first lead mare. Terry prayed that Paprika would take her assigned companions to higher ground located about ? mile behind the barn. There they stood the only chance of surviving the night in relative safety. The barn’s electricity was still working as they grouped their Morgans in threesomes, pushing open stall doors, literally working against the tide of the water as it flowed in one end of the barn and out the other. She was impressed by how composed her young Morgans remained as they exited the barn under these horrible conditions, though in the darkness beyond the barn, chaos ensued. It became evident that one group of horses missed the gate to high ground and instead returned to the paddocks behind the barn. While Paprika’s group successfully navigated the trip Scandia’s Moonbeam, the eldest mare, returned with two weanlings and a gelding.
An old farm truck was parked behind the barn and now stood in water up to its wheels. Brinden hopped inside and turned on the headlights in an effort to provide guidance to the small group attempting to return to the sanctuary of their barn. Terry grasped Moonbeam’s halter and led her to the gate that would provide access to their only hope of reaching safety beyond the barn. Moonbeam’s three companions were now running without direction or the composure that had presided as they left the barn. Perhaps it was Moonbeam’s neigh into the dark of the night that made them collect their thoughts and return to her side. Terry’s claims it was as if she said “This way!” With that, Terry released Moonbeam into the night as the last three Morgans followed her to Paprika’s location.
Within the hour the electricity went out leaving Scandia’s Carribean Blue, their stallion, alone in the barn. Should they turn out Blue to follow the other horses, or risk leaving him in his stall? They wrestled with this decision and reluctantly left him in the barn, making provisions for hay and water. As they made their way back to the house, it appeared that the water was no higher, but the undercurrent had increased as well as the amount of debris traveling through the water. Terry was knocked down in the water by the sheer velocity of the water and its debris. She would later admit that at no time did she ever consider that their house could have easily been undermined or washed off its cement foundation.
By Monday morning there was no power or phone service. As they surveyed the landscape they could see that the water had continued to rise with increasing amounts of debris and muck. They also noted that the water had created three separate streams which flowed on each side of the barn with a third stream continuing through the barn’s center aisle. Miraculously the silt and fine debris was deposited into Blue’s stall effectively creating higher ground leaving him knee deep in water. The rain raged on until 3:00 Monday afternoon. Blue had now been standing in frigid water for twelve hours.
When Terry and Brinden returned to the barn they noticed that their horse trailer stood in shallow water. It seemed reasonable to place Blue in the trailer to give him some relief from the knee high frigid water. Stall doors formerly confining the herd removed during the night could no longer be opened due to the barricading effect of the silt deposits now encasing the doors. Blue was led through a gate behind the barn into the yard beyond the barn. Acting much like a soldier surveying a minefield, Brinden made a path to the trailer’s location. His steps would mark the way for Terry and Blue to follow. Terry sank into the mud at one point unable to lift herself to proceed. Blue literally hauled her up onto her feet and they proceeded to the back of the trailer where Blue now sank in heavy mud. With incredible effort from this sinking position he leapt up onto the step-up trailer where he remained loose, dry and could be checked and fed on a regular basis. Throughout Monday night, in the absence of power or phone, strong storm winds blew echoing the hopelessness of their situation.
By midday on Monday, the news channels on the East Coast were reporting substantial rain in the area surrounding Chehalis, WA. A certain restlessness and frustration began to grow as friends and family failed to make contact with Terry and continued to be bombarded with ominous weather reports for the PNW well into the next day. By mid afternoon on Tuesday, Kathy Defazio in Oregon and Nancy Jewell in Idaho confirmed the presence of a fierce rainstorm in the region where Terry lived. Fears grew that Terry may be facing this storm alone as her husband is frequently away from the farm as a result of his work. Rapid busy signals were the only sound coming from Dream Morgan Farm. Terry’s daughter, Jaimie Charron in Vermont, confirmed a lack of information coming from this tiny Morgan farm. Fears and frustration grew. All bridges were down that connected Terry to the community who had provided much needed solace in previous stressful times.
Bridges are often a metaphor for links, connections, and associations. They connect the banks of a creek, and the people in our lives, for example. Like bridges, the Internet, chat groups, and Morgan lists also serve as bridges. A cyber pat on the back provides the daily encouragement critical to replenishing dreams that have been dampened by geographic isolation, which can often breed self-doubt. These lists allow us to feel that we are part of a larger community. It becomes easier to shake off uncertainty about our goals and aspirations. Bonds are formed. Friendships result and much needed connections are made.
Back at Dream Morgan Farm on Tuesday morning, Terry and Brinden were able to spot the horses with their binoculars at first light. The water began to recede leaving larger patches of ground and mud and though they could not get to the horses, they felt blessed that all had survived. Every paddock and most fences had been compromised or destroyed by the raging waters.
At the same time on this Tuesday morning, the Johnsons’ son Patrick and his wife Sarah were hitchhiking to Halfway Creek Ranch. The devastation had affected the entire region, not just their little corner of the world. Roads and bridges were destroyed and dysfunctional. Like list members and cyber friends around the country, they had not been able to reach Terry or Brinden and were on a mission to deliver food and emergency provisions as well as a cell phone. Upon their arrival, the family stopped to examine the landscape and appraise the damage left in the wake of this terrible winter storm. They wept as they took in the magnitude of the wreckage. Layers of silt and mud covered much of the area around the house and barn crowned by whole trees, stumps and other debris that had been deposited on their land as the waters subsided. The bridge that once connected their farm to the world beyond was now nearly unrecognizable, as it lay twisted and hanging into the creek bed, no longer allowing them safe access to the main road and possibly impeding the flow of the creek causing future flooding.
They began the process of lugging hay to the horses now stranded on a piece of land without fencing. The group of Morgans graciously accepted the hay without fussing or drama. There was no evidence of competition for feed or space and somehow they understood that they had survived an extraordinary set of circumstances. A roll of wire was strung with no source of electricity to contain this now bonded group since it was clearly too dangerous for them to return to the barn now surrounded by debris. There was no way this herd could be maintained on this island. Improved accommodations were made for Blue who now had access to a small paddock behind the barn.
Up the road from Dream Morgan Farm, reports began to emerge of the drowning of herds of horses, cattle, sheep and other livestock. Human lives and homes were lost. This storm had chosen to wreak havoc on the underprivileged inhabitants of the Chehalis valley. Relief would come slowly. The magnitude of the destruction was humbling to Terry, a word she would use over and over in the days ahead. Patrick and Brinden’s cell phones became lifelines, their new bridges to the outside world. They had to cross their teetering bridge to receive and make calls since their reception was unreliable on the house side of the creek. Terry began to contact her daughter in Vermont and some friends in the PNW. Slowly the word began to get out that indeed Terry had been in grave danger throughout the storm, but managed to survive along with her husband. Her calls were brief as her electricity was not consistent enough to recharge the phone and calls often had to be made in the cold and the dark after crossing to the other shore over the badly compromised bridge. Her wonderful son continued to be a daily presence to organize work parties and tackle the removal of the now defunct bridge which needed to be replaced with downed trees that were dropped across the creek and fastened together to create a more user friendly bridge to the road.
Wednesday morning found cyber-friends and Morgan owners experiencing a complete sense of helplessness. There had to be something they could do to help the Johnson family. It seemed prudent to let the people living closest to Terry know about her dire circumstances. A visit to the AMHA web site soon revealed the regional club contact information. One click showed the name Marcia Shahon, President of the Washington State Morgan Club in Region Eight. A second click pulled up an email address and with those two clicks hundreds of Morgan owners and friends were contacted in an email that Marcia responded to in a big way. Phone calls were now connecting the west coast and the east coast and once information was shared, an army of volunteers shifted into gear. Many friends and acquaintances of the Johnsons’ came forward to offer homes and assistance. Marcia’s post was a catalyst for a community ready to serve.
Kathy Defazio from Scandia Morgan Farm in St. Helens, Oregon, also took action in a big way. Kathy immediately contacted her local credit union and opened an account to accept donations for a rebuilding fund for the Johnsons’ precious Morgan farm. She wasted no time in making account information available on multiple Morgan lists, the AMHA web site, e-mailings, and word of mouth. Dori Steckley came forward to make her PayPal account available for donations as well. In no time, donations poured in from all over the country and Canada. Sue Brander wrote an article describing the details of this event that was circulated on the web and in various publications to further educate the Morgan community.
By Wednesday, the safety of Terry’s Morgan Horses became her preoccupation. They simply could not remain at her farm. The property was unsafe. Potable water and safe fencing were scarce or nonexistent. Terry made a well-placed call to Nancy Jewell of Jazztime Morgan Farm in Post Falls, Idaho. Nancy, then contacted Greg Ferguson at Trafalgar Training Center in Walla Walla, WA who coordinated places for ten horses and the necessary trucks and trailers. Dream Morgan Farm’s reconnection had begun to the outside world. By Sunday, a trailer convoy was headed to Chehalis, WA to carry out the evacuation plan. Especially dear to Terry that day was the volunteer caravan consisting of Daryl Hopson and Greg Ferguson with a truck and trailer; Kim and David Shahon with their truck and trailer; and Doug and Brenda Coats who provided a truck and trailer as well. Jeanette Breshears, a volunteer from the Washington State Morgan Horse Club rode along with the Shahons to provide additional assistance. Trafalgar's Training Center is a good 8-hour trip from Terry's farm and they drove to Chehalis on terrible roads covered by deep snow and ice. She simply does not know how she can ever repay these heroes.
On Saturday and Sunday, the day before the volunteer caravan arrived, Mitch and Susan Williams who live on higher ground in the Chehalis area brought home Dream Belle Pepper. They spent hours that weekend assisting the Johnsons with storm related cleanup. Joe and Gailene Mast from Roy, WA also came on Sunday to take home Dream Bobbi Blue and Dream Dearly Beloved, both previously purchased by them. They were the first to make the trek down the only viable road to the farm, a ? mile forest road owned by Weyerhaeuser Industry. Their walk out was further complicated by a snowstorm on Sunday.
A week had passed since the brutal PNW storm descended on the Chehalis Valley and all of the horses were in route to temporary, safe homes. Terry was truly humbled by the number of volunteers who showed up that day to facilitate the evacuation of her herd through preexisting forest roads cut through the neighboring forest. The road also had several gates along the way. Most gates were off of their hinges in the wake of this powerful storm and volunteers were lifting them from the ground to allow passage of the horses. Some volunteers led the horses, some assisted with herding, or loading. Once the volunteers laid eyes on her property, they understood. Without using words, it was apparent that they were making long-term commitments to the care and custody of these now displaced horses. The destruction and aftermath from this storm had forever changed the landscape of Dream Morgan Farm.
On the day of the evacuation, Weyerhaeuser Industries was also on a mission to return this forest to its original state using heavy equipment. It was bad timing really. The horse trailers were driving in and Weyerhaeuser Industry was commencing work on their road. The group of volunteers requested a 20-minute break in Weyerhaeuser’s activity to complete the removal of horses from the now destroyed farm. The Johnson’s had driven to the location of this forest road the week before the planned evacuation. Four W.I. employees were on site evaluating the post-flood status of their forestland. These employees gave the Johnsons assurances that loading and removing the horses would present no problem. Despite these assurances, subcontractors continued unloading equipment while horses waited to be moved on trailers to their new homes. The subcontractors clearly did not understand the mental state of the horses, or the families left to contend with the life altering state of their abutting properties. Reportedly, Weyerhaeuser Industry officials have personally apologized to the Johnsons and taken steps to sensitize their staff to the exhibited disregard.
Terry will never forget the fight put up by her stallion, Blue, as he resisted leaving the property. He has been stall confined for five days and he quickly resorted to stomping and hollering once onto the trailer. His screams haunt her still. He hadn't been off the farm for nine years and watched as his mares and foals were led away from his world down the road cut through the forest. Brenda and Doug Coats of Cobridge Morgans in Bend, Oregon volunteered to keep Blue while his farm was being restored. Brenda maintains contact with Terry and reports that Blue has settled in, been a gentleman and resumed his mannerly behavior! The Coats also agreed to provide care for Dream Royal Carribean, a five-year old gelding, and have since placed him with a potential buyer. The Coats, too, are heroes.
Daryl Hopson and Greg Ferguson from Trafalgar Training Center took Scandia’s Paprika and Scandia’s Moonbeam to their farm in Walla Walla, WA. There, Paprika will foal out her 2008 foal by Blue and continue to be leased. In addition, Moonbeam, now 25 years old, will be introduced to their retired broodmare band. They will act as agents to sell Paprika’s foal pre- or post-foaling. Nancy Jewell met them at a cold, dark, noisy truck stop in Pasco, WA where they transferred Dream Belladonna and Dream Blue Curacao to her trailer to be brought to Jazztime Morgan Farm in Post Falls, Idaho. Nancy will oversee the care and sale of these yearlings.
Kim and David Shahon of Belleridge Morgans received word from Greg Ferguson about Terry’s dire circumstances. They eagerly offered to rescue one of Terry’s treasured Morgans so Dream Thymeless Beauty, a five-year-old mare, made the trip to the Shahon’s farm where she will remain as long as needed. Likewise, Meghan Walker of Chehalis, WA, will provide a temporary home for Cascade Molly McGee, a valued broodmare at Dream Morgans. Erin and Mike Silver of Silver Mesa Training in Monmouth, Oregon, provided for the transfer of Dream Carribella who will be staying with Marli Perry of Terrebonne, Oregon.
As Terry described the orderly relocation of her Morgan Horses her words were marked by emotion and choked back tears. Terry was awestruck as the weanlings moved quietly and obediently through the terrible conditions that existed on this muck-laden road. Owners and drivers of the trailers had to contend with eight inches of water on most locations along this new entrance to her farm as the local rivers tried to chisel out new riverbeds in an effort to accommodate water levels of historic proportions.
Terry was impressed by how compliant her mares and young stock were as they cooperated to be loaded, then unloaded in the chaos to remove soaked and filthy blankets then loaded once again to proceed on their journey to a new, safe destination. Paprika, the Johnson's first Morgan mare, and her produce were also stars. Their spirit of cooperation that day proved that the blood flowing through their veins was the blood of a herd worthy of a second chance, a reason to go on for Terry.
“We are luckier and more blessed than most” became her mantra after the horses left the farm. She was so overwhelmed she could not bring herself to further discuss or describe what had happened. They are in survival mode for now, their emotional landscape as chaotic as their homestead. She and Brinden will forever be indebted to their son, Patrick. She likened Patrick’s attitude to Blue's; he simply refuses to give up the notion that this farm is HOME and it must be saved. He organized work parties consisting of friends and neighbors who proceeded to rip out wet walls, carpets and debris. It's all so overwhelming. She said that they could work and work for two years and not be able to return this farm back to its original state. Doug Coats, a long time road contractor, has determined that repair of their bridge is out of the question. Instead he is recommending new construction. Their son Patrick has taken on this mission along with co-workers and friends. He works daily, regardless of weather, securing supplies, additional contractors and heavy equipment for the new and improved version. When the bridge is complete they will begin digging out and with time restore all that lies beyond the bridge.
Valiant efforts don’t seem to make a dent in the work that remains to be done. Their farm and their lives have been forever altered. Whole hills, riverbanks, and bridges are now so severely compromised that they no longer have the ability to predict how the creeks and rivers will behave in the days and weeks ahead during the rainy season. They feel vulnerable. For now, she describes herself as deeply humbled. Mother Nature has a way of doing that to us. She is so thankful that at least she does not have to worry about the well being of her horses. They are now with people she knows, loves and trusts. And when you are lucky enough to have friends you love and trust, you are lucky enough!
To send donations for the rebuilding of Dream Morgan Farm, make your check payable to SHCFCU, Acct# 997054; In the Memo write: Flood Fund; Mail to: Flood Fund, Box 658, St. Helens, OR, 97051. Please include your name, farm name and address for later acknowledgements. Some broodmares are available for lease and young stock and show horses are for sale. Please visit www.dreammorgans.com