Here's the text of an email sent me today by a friend who works in disaster relief and long term recovery efforts. Thought Dave's perspective on what's going on in Lewis County (and other flood areas) is instructive. I witnessed exactly the second disaster thing in the Gulf Coast a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck, where entire semi-truck convoys had arrived stuffed with used clothing, at least half of it rags. The "generosity" of others ended up creating an enormous solid waste disposal problem.

In case it hasn't been clear from all the media accounts and press releases over the past couple of weeks, please consider from this point on an absolute embargo, prohibition, ban, whatever on any donations of clothing or household items of any kind, especially to Lewis County.

The donations issue has created a major crisis in Centralia and Chehalis in particular. In the disaster relief/response community, this is typically called the "disaster that follows the disaster." I'm not at liberty to hare all that I know about the extent of the problem politically or among the voluntary agencies in Lewis County, but the bottom line is "no donations, period."

There is a new website about the local landslides and flooding. It is still being updated and we will try and get the Stillman Creek and Boistfort Valley information up soon. If you have any pictures you would like to submit, specifically of flooding or landslides, please email them to me at isabelle.sarikhan (at) wadnr [dot] gov

With your permission (and please state so in the email), we will post your picture. Please provide a location and short description, also your name as you wish it to appear on the website. If you have any questions or comments to improve the website, please get in contact with me. We are trying to reach out to the community to help document and understand this disaster to help mitigate and prepare for future hazards.

Website here.

It’s always easier to face adversity with a really good cuppa joe and here in Olympia we have our own version of good coffee: Batdorf and Bronson or BnB. It happens that they have a shop just down the street so I hustle down for a triple Americano as Mrs C was calling around to make connections with contractors early. Chairman Meow, our Siamese illegal, smuggled across the not pet border in the dark of night helped out by lazing on the bed.

Paul Johnson blogs a great story from the heart, read My personal Disaster Recovery.

I thought the river was high yesterday. Today was much higher. These pictures were taken around 10 ish Tuesday morning 12/4. The sun came out as soon as we left.

Second location Grand Opening! Come celebrate the Grand Opening of our second location - Ranch House BBQ Xpress! Located in downtown Olympia, Ranch House BBq Xpress will offer the same Award-winning bbq you are used to!

More with current news

Ranch House BBQ toppled by mud

Misc. Photos of Flooding

Cooper Pt. and Blacklake Dr.

Flooding pics

Tumwater Falls Park Flood Pictures

Took a few pictures of Deschutes River. A man from the Park said he expected the river would crest in "6 to 8 hours" after these pictures were taken. The park will open tomorrow at 8 am, he said.

http://gallery.mac.com/iferguson23#100028