All Are Safe - Flooding Destroys Some of Our Favorite Workshop Areas
Friends-
A sudden storm raged through Ghost Ranch around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7th. Brief yet violent, it brought destructive waters sweeping down through the arroyo, annihilating everything in its path. The force of the 20-foot wall of water that roared through was so strong it snapped mature trees in half and carried buildings away. This week, in the aftermath, we exalt at the fact that no one was hurt… truly a miracle. We are just so grateful to God for the safety of our guests, volunteers and staff.
We lost the Box Canyon aqueduct, Pot Hollow, Short House, Pole Barn, the Low Ropes Course and equipment shed, and further on down the arroyo, the brand new Fiber Arts Studio. Classes held in these areas have all been relocated. Aside from limited access to the Box Canyon hiking trail and closing part of the Matrimonial Mesa trail, Ghost Ranch is fully operational.
The National Weather Service is investigating the storm as there has not been an event like this in their records and they are surveying to assess how to forecast such an event in the future. For aid and funding to rebuild we're working with the Risk Management staff at the Presbyterian Church (USA), the New Mexico Governor's Office, the Department of Homeland Security, the Rio Arriba Country Emergency Management Office/Rural Events Center/Extension Office, the National Resource Conservation Service and Santa Clara Pueblo. We've also engaged the help of the Presbyterian Disaster Services, American Red Cross, FEMA, National Weather Service, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, PC(USA) Management and Communications Staff, our Governing Board and National Ghost Ranch Foundation.
Many of you inquired how you can help. At this time, the damage is too extensive and the areas are very dangerous to be working in, so we do not have volunteer and staff work crews in the destroyed areas. We have insurance but it comes with a hefty $100,000 deductible. Your help today is needed.
We will rebuild. And although it may seem obvious, we will not rebuild in the same areas.
If you have not yet given to our Flood Recovery Fund, or would like to give again, you may do so by connecting to this link on our website: http://www.ghostranch.org/support/donate-now/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Flash+Floods+Affect+Ghost+Ranch+-+July+7&utm_content=Flash+Floods+Affect+Ghost+Ranch+-+July+7+CID_eb8becbe4b41e2f41c60fba0e06dd901&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software
OR you can mail a donation to:
Ghost Ranch
280 Private Road #1708, Abiquiu NM 87510.
Visit our website for Other Ways to Support Ghost Ranch which offers portals for shopping on Smile.Amazon.com and GoodShop, both which allow a portion of your planned purchases to be donated to Ghost Ranch.
We are also seeking donations for our online auction which opens for bidding September 12. If you have an item or service to contribute to our auction, please email marym@ghostranch.org.
While the devastation and loss are extensive, we are blessed with wonderful guests, donors, friends, and staff. You are all so awesome! God bless you for your love and encouragement! THANK YOU all SO much for the outpouring of generous offers of financial assistance and help in our recovery.
Immediately after the devastation from Tuesday’s storm, a double rainbow appeared over the Mesa – the promise of God’s love and hope times two!
During these days of assessing the damages, more signs of hope are emerging – a beautiful robin rebuilding her nest in a beam left on the Pottery structure, a road runner skipping across the arroyo, sun, rain and more sun, and best of all, our guests enjoying the abounding beauty and the community of the Ranch, singing, painting, laughing, praising, caring. What joy!
We are so overwhelmed at the outpouring of prayers, financial support, offers of volunteer time, and many words of encouragement. You are all awesome!
With love and gratitude,
Debra Hepler, Executive Director
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