Heavy rain, wind and waves threaten Hoh Beach

Three storms came and went the week of Dec 7. The first two storms dropped four to nine inches of rain in the Hoh River basin and each weather event added up to drive the river up to 30,000 cfs. More......

December 24, 2014 12:52 pm
Beach scene after tons of rip-rap was installed near the ancient Hoh village.
Beach scene after tons of rip-rap was installed near the ancient Hoh village.

Three storms came and went the week of Dec 7. The first two storms dropped four to nine inches of rain in the Hoh River basin and each weather event added up to drive the river up to 30,000 cfs. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Olympic Corrections crews placed sandbags around buildings in the lower Hoh village between storms one and two.

The river eventually rose to within one foot of overflowing its banks, behind the local ballfield, but no flooding resulted.

The third storm brought strong winds but thankfully not as much rain.

The beach in front of the ancient village was threatened early in the week and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent an advance team Tuesday morning to assess the situation. The Corps then responded by placing 400 tons of riprap Tuesday night.

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When the heaviest wind and waves struck Thursday evening, Dec. 11, some debris was hurled over the new riprap wall but no land was lost to the storm.

The Hoh Tribe wishes to express its appreciation to the agencies who provided assistance during these events:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• BIA, Emergency Management

• Olympic Corrections Crews

• Randy Parker Logging

• Bruch and Bruch Construction

• Jefferson County Road Crew

• Clallam County PUD

• National Weather Service, Seattle Office

• Seton Construction

• Jefferson County Emergency Management