By Ray Birch
BEAVERCREEK, Ore.—One credit union CEO, who recently had to flee his home here as wildfires threatened his farm, his family and his animals, says the crisis has given him a clearer perspective on the help members need in times of natural disasters.
Brady Howe, CEO at the $52-million Cutting Edge FCU in Milwaukie, Ore., spoke with CUToday.info about how he, his husband, and his two children—and a number of farm animals—had to rush out of their 36-acre farm with little idea of how they were all going to do that and where they were going to go as some of this state’s devastating fires approached.
Howe said his home was being threatened by the Riverside Fire, and that his small, rural part of the world 30 miles south of Portland at one point went to Level 3, which means everyone in the area has to evacuate in 15 minutes. As CUToday.info has reported, wildfires continue to rage in the Western U.S. So far this year, fires in Oregon, Washington, and California have burned some three million hectares, marking the West Coast’s worst fire season in at least 70 years. The blazes have killed at least 35 people, destroyed hundreds of structures, and caused extreme air pollution that has threatened the health of millions of residents.
“Our house was built in the 1880s—it's the original homestead out here and I thought I’d never see it again,” Howe said. “There are so many good memories in that home, and so many things we were leaving behind.”
Howe and his family was fortunate the winds shifted and their home was spared, but that did not change how he felt at the time he was forced to leave his land.
“When I got into this woman's truck to drive away I said this could be it. I might not see my house again. I might not see all the stuff that was in there…” Howe recalled. “It was really scary. It was overwhelming. It was the most stressful day of my life.”
Help from a Cowboy
Howe said he found some comfort in knowing his children were safe as a group of volunteers—called Cowboy 911—showed up immediately once the evacuation order was issued with trucks, cars and trailers to not only escort his family to safety but the farm animals as well.
“I just know when we got the order to go I had no idea where we were going to go, and how we were going to get all of my animals moved,” said Howe, explaining his family stayed for a few days at a stranger’s home. “It was a feeling like I had never had before in my life, just not knowing what to do.”
But the people helping people philosophy of the volunteers who came by from all areas of Oregon, California and Washington to help provided a tremendous sense of relief and support for Howe and his family, he said.
Brady Howe
“All I knew was the lady driving the truck I was in was named Patty. She had driven four hours down from Washington to help out in our areas,” he explained. “I asked Patty why she was doing it, and she said the same thing that credit unions say when they help those in need—it’s about people helping people, and that we are all community.”
A Clearer Perspective
How said at that minute he gained an even clearer perspective on what credit unions do for their members when disasters strike.
“Cutting Edge has helped a number of people get through crises in the past, but being in their shoes made me look at things in an entirely different way,” said Howe. “The saying is true, that you never really know what someone is going though until you are in their shoes.”
Fortunately the fires shifted and Howe and his family did not have to be away from their farm for an extended period of time, and they are now back home.
“It was truly a harrowing experience, not only for me but my parents, as well,” he said. “They live 20 minutes from me, and they had to evacuate as well.”
Howe said that while the Riverside Fire never threatened his farm, a local fire wiped out two homes on his street.
“Fires can start so easily here,” he said. “Before we had to evacuate some people were leaving their homes and pulling a car behind their truck with a chain. Well, the chain sparked a fire that spread so fast it burned down two homes on our street. Burned them down to the ground.”
Sheared of Sheep
Howe added he was fortunate that late last year he got out of the sheep-raising business, selling off his flock before Christmas.
“That would have been very difficult moving all of those animals,” he said. “But I tell you, I had no idea how we were going to get the several animals we still have off the farm so quickly, but we did with the help of a lot of great people.
“Again, this is simply a story of people heling people,” said Howe. “We have helped members whose homes have burned down, and these situations are rough on them. But I think I can say now that I know what it’s like to go through something like this, to be under the gun and have to move quickly from these fast-moving fires that are spreading all over the West.”