Wells still needs help after earthquake
I knew something was wrong as soon as my cell phone rang Thursday morning – partly because my parents know better than to call me at 6:24 a.m., but mostly I just felt a twisting feeling in my stomach.
When I flipped the phone open, I could hear my mom screaming and crying over a faint rumbling in the background, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying except for the occasional “Oh my god.” I was sure somebody in my family had died.
Turns out the rumbling was a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that was in the process of rattling my hometown of Wells, Nev. My mom was calling to tell me that she and my father were alright.
For the next 10 minutes, my head filled with visions of our home, along with the rest of town, violently shaking and crumbling to the ground.
Much of Wells is populated by families that have lived in the area for generations, and my parents, grandparents, and most of my aunts and uncles live there. So, without knowing the earthquake’s devastation, I sat on the corner of my bed afraid to call back for fear of what I would hear.
When I finally gathered the courage to call my dad’s cell, he told me that everyone was OK.
The town didn’t fair nearly as well.
Most of the old downtown was destroyed, the high school and several other large buildings (such as they are) were shaken apart, and many homes were significantly damaged when foundations and chimneys crumbled.
Turns out my parents were lucky. Their home wasn’t damaged much, but, like everyone in town experienced, most everything that wasn’t firmly attached to a wall ended up broken on the floor.
Within hours, major news outlets from Reno, Salt Lake City and Boise , Idaho were in the area, and Gov. Jim Gibbons also showed up to survey the destruction.
Most of the images on the news have been of the damage to the “historic district.” It’s sad to see those buildings, reminders of when Wells was a booming railroad town long ago, but the “historic district” makes up a small block of town. Few people live there and the buildings were already in ill-repair.
The real tragedy lies in a high school that may be condemned, in the people that lost everything they own and in all the homes that may no longer be fit to dwell in.
I haven’t suffered like those who still live in Wells, but I struggle to comprehend the pain of the people I grew up around.
I realize difficult times aren’t exclusive to Wells, and I know many University of Nevada, Reno students have endured earthquakes in the past. I don’t mean to make Wells’ tragedy seem worse than anyone else’s.
My worry is that people won’t remember. Wells is an oft-forgotten town, even by Nevada’s politicians. With a population of 1,300, I can understand why.
But now the town needs people to remember.
Wells will be OK. The town really is a big family, and I’ve already heard stories of people putting their own messes aside to help people with greater need.
The same things that make me proud to be from Wells are the reasons the town will survive.
At the same time, there’s only so much people can do to repair what is broken on their own.
Wells needs help. I just hope that people, particularly Mr. Gibbons, don’t forget that.
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© 2008 The Nevada Sagebrush
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
This story was particularly interesting to me because your grandfather Bob is my cousin. Very small world.
Aunt Jane sent my aunt Jean a copy of your story and a copy of a letter from your grandma Shirley. Actually hadn’t heard of earthquake (although I’m sure it was on the national news) because my hubby was having some procedure done in Denver hospital at the time.
Have a granddaughter who is interested in journalism…will be watching your stories.