Helping one of our own

The following letter was written today for a Morgan Breeder, lover and friend. 

Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in the Pacific
Northwest this week.  Through the night of Tuesday,
December 4, the Morgan stallion, Scandias Caribbean
Blue, stood in moving water up to his chest, as the
creek on the Dream Morgans farm in Chehalis,
Washington, reached record high flood stages.  Owner
Terry Johnson later moved “Blue” to a trailer, the
only protection from the debris that swirled on the
surging flood waters.  He survived the night,
apparently unharmed.  

A weanling and older horses in the Morgan herd, were
turned out to find a high spot on their own, and they
also survived that terrible night.  They are,
basically, running free in a pasture where they can
get grass, and cannot get to the road. 

 Terry Johnson is a Morgan breeder, known to many of
us through internet lists.  Before the bridge blew
out, Terry’s son Patrick, made it to the farm, with a
cell phone.  That became the only link to the outside
world for Terry and her husband, Brinden.  They spent
Tuesday night on the second floor of the house.  The
main floor had ten inches of water in it.  The power
went out.  The barn was filled with water.  Fences and
other debris sailed by the house, crashing into
outbuildings and vehicles.  

They have no flood insurance.    Although the water
began to recede late Wednesday, the river is expected
to remain at flood stage through Friday.  It peaked at
a foot above the previous record, set in 1996.  This
makes access to Chehalis impossible at this time, and
the Interstate remains closed.  We will update this
story as new information emerges. 

 Right now, Wednesday, December 5, Terry and Brinden
are conserving their cell phone minutes.  They are in
touch with their daughter, Jamie, in Vermont, and son
Patrick, who lives nearby.  Our information comes to
us, channeled through phone calls on the cell.  Their
power is restored but their home and beautiful
pastures and fencing have been destroyed.  Their barn
is ruined and their bridge to the farm is broken in
two and useless.  All will have to be rebuilt.  Years
of love and work destroyed in an instant.  

Terry Johnson is going to need our help.  Kathy
DeFazio has set up a bank account to which we can send
donations.  Here’s how you can contribute. 

   Make your check out to SHCFCU, Account Number
997054 In the memo line, write Flood Fund Include a
note with your name or farm name, and address.  Kathy
DeFazio will keep a record so Terry can send
acknowledgements later. 

Mail your donation to:  Flood Fund, Box 658, St.
Helens, Oregon, 97051.  

My friends, before you write your check, picture
Caribbean Blue, with the waters rising around him in
the dark. What a courageous horse!  Caribbean Blue
belongs to all of us.  He is our horse, our Morgan.
I’m writing my check for the courage of The Morgan. 
Sue Brander  

So, Sue, are we.

Doug and Tori Wilfred

Seville, OH

(330) 335-8247 (home)

tori@draconiakeep.com