WHEREAS, On October 11, 2009, a quarter-mile wide, 80 acre mass of earth some 200 plus feet deep gave way, sliding into the Naches River and destroying a section of state route 410 in the Nile Valley; and
     WHEREAS, The Nile Valley landslide cut off power to hundreds of people and businesses, forced the evacuation of the area, and rerouted the Naches River into neighborhoods, damaging dozens of homes; and
     WHEREAS, Federal, state, and local agencies, businesses, and resilient residents immediately came together to assist with the emergency in any way they could; and
     WHEREAS, Governor Christine Gregoire declared an emergency because of the damage to state route 410 and the surrounding area, allowing the state to construct a temporary route around the landslide and build a new channel for the Naches River; and
     WHEREAS, Yakima County Emergency Management, Yakima County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Transportation, Yakima County Search and Rescue, and local fire districts responded to assist residents and businesses; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State Department of Transportation employees worked tirelessly with Selland Construction, Inc. for many weeks to open a temporary road, construct a new road, and reroute the Naches River; and
     WHEREAS, In order to construct the new road and river channel, Yakima County Public Services purchased more than 60 acres of property on behalf of the public; and
     WHEREAS, Yakima County Flood Control District designed and provided daily oversight for a new river channel to redirect it away from homes and the toe of the landslide for protection of downstream infrastructure; and
     WHEREAS, The Army Corp of Engineers under direction from Yakima County assisted the Washington State Department of Transportation in constructing the new river channel; and
     WHEREAS, The U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yakama Nation, and the state Departments of Ecology, Natural Resources, and Fish and Wildlife all contributed their efforts and resources to the cleanup and recovery after the October 11th natural disaster;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the aforementioned agencies and individuals for their steadfast dedication, rapid response, and spirit of cooperation in returning a sense of normalcy to the residents and businesses of the Nile Valley.