Look now at Leavenworth this morning where
the National Guard stepped in to help
the town deal with the snow emergency.
Today they'll be heading out
after doing a lot of work.
The city is prepping for the possibility
of more winter weather than they
want to make sure this time they
are prepared joining us now to talk
more about this historic snowfall is
Leavenworth Mayor Clarell Carl Flory.
Good morning Carl.
Good morning I.
I've heard from people who've
lived in Leavenworth for a while.
They've never seen anything like this.
Did you anticipate this must snowfall?
No, we can't. You you really
can't anticipate something this
this tremendous we, you know,
I've lived here since 85 and the
closest I've heard it compared
to is snow as we had in 96.
But that was over a much longer
period of time, not all at once.
So this is an unprecedented snowfall.
You've got more rain on the way,
and top of this record snowfall.
Can you tell us more about the city's
plans to make sure that you are prepared
after the National Guard leaves?
Yeah, that's the that's the biggest concern.
Is is how much I mean if we just get
mild weather and a little bit at a time,
but if it all comes down and we
get a lot of rain on top, you know
that's gonna make everything heavier.
That doesn't get shed some of the roots,
you know, have metal roofs
usually will clean off,
but other roofs you know it's a
problem if if things are built in,
you know recent more recent I would say you
know they're going to be able to handle.
The weight on top of them we built
a high standards here 'cause we are
a winner community but but we are
concerned there's a lot of older homes
and a lot of you know ones that were
built before that was really an issue.
Or or you know there were codes in place
so it does bring some concern and we
just hope and pray that you know the rain.
We can handle a little bit,
but if there's too much and then of course
the flooding that would come with that too.
So we're we're not out of
the woods and we know that,
but we're trying to be.
You know one of the big things
we've been doing the last week
and we're still finishing up.
Actually,
and that's just hauling that
tremendous amount of snow out of
our neighborhoods off of the streets
clearing it out because we have to
be prepared for what will come next.
And we're still in winter.
We could still get some more snow,
and we would have nowhere to even just use
plows on it if we didn't get it cleaned off.
So you know,
we've spent probably it'll be close to a half
$1,000,000 just to move snow out of our town.
And, you know,
as far as small town.
That's difficult,
but we just we had to do it.
You know,
you worry about how to pay for it later
or hoping we can get some reimbursement,
but.
It's not the time to you know,
question what you just have to do it well.
I will say the good thing that we've
been hearing coming out 11 worth is
just how the people of leaven worth
have been so kind during this time.
In fact, we interviewed a couple from
Olympia who came to 11 worth to enjoy,
sort of a romantic getaway.
They ended up getting stock and one
of the hotels that they were staying
and ended up just letting them stay
for free and just they were describing
how wonderful the community was
to help people during that time.
Give us an idea of.
Some of the other things in this community.
It's sort of a tight knit community,
so people just really do come together,
right?
It is and you know that's what
people you know sometimes forget.
When you come here, you know we can host.
Sometimes up to 10,000 people
on a weekend and you think,
you know we're a bigger town?
We're only a we're a very small town,
you know, just over 2000 people
and we are good old-fashioned town
in that way people do get out.
I mean that the morning of
the snow I was out trying to,
you know, clear my driveway.
So it was almost a block party.
You got everybody out there helping
each other, sharing equipment,
sharing shovels, sharing snow blowers.
You know I was helping somebody.
They gave me an extra shovel that I needed.
So it is, you know,
people helping people is the
is the great part of this.
You know our concern in bringing
in the National Guard was there's
a lot of people though that are
elderly and basically housebound
and we wanted to make sure that they
could also get out or get you know,
food and medical supplies.
And so that's basically what we call
the National Guard to give us more
boots on the ground to get around
and make sure people were were safe.
Sounds like we pick our,
you know,
the safety of this community seriously
is one of our prime responsibilities.
Well, Carl florea.
Thank you so much for give
us an idea of what 11 worth
is experiencing right now.
Hopefully you'll get a little bit
of a breather before the next
round of snow hits here. Hope so yeah.