SkyView Estates Landslide Disaster Relief Fund
Donation protected
Hi all, GoFundMe would like you to get a little more information about us.
Who you are: My name is Desiree Contessa
Where you're from: I live in Skyview Estates in Monroe, Wa. I own a home in the neighborhood that the road collapse happened at on February 6th, 2020.
I actually went down 260th maybe 15-20min before this failure occurred. I was running into town to grab my kids from the bus stop. I was notified of the road collapse by another neighbor. She called in disbelief. She told me what happened. She told me that our road was gone. I received the call at 4pm pst.... I left our neighborhood at 3:30/3:45. That's some crazy stuff. I was most likely the last person to drive down our hill. What if the slide had happened when I was on it? I have thought about that, catastrophic... but I have to let those thoughts go.
Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for: My relationship to the parties has become so much closer than I ever thought. We all have 5 acre parcels. There are 44 parcels. 120 plus community members. I have met so many more members in the last 3 weeks than I have in the 3 years I have lived here.
How the funds will be used (be specific as possible): Well, all funds raised are going to be transferred into an account that was opened specifically for fundraising. It is in our neighborhood's non-profit name: Skyview Estates Community Association with all the appropriate TIN information attached. The beneficiary is Korren Karahalios. She is a board member who is also a signer on that account.
All the funds raised will be split evenly between each parcel owners share for the reparation and construction of our road. Currently, we are all required via a vote of our community to pay a $4000 deposit for the road construction. This money will be able to negate some of that financial burden on each of us.
Yes, this is not a county road. It is a private road in our non-profit associations name for our benefit. We are asking for help because this burden is very hard for us to bare. We are all hard working community members who have all come together. We all share a common goal.
I would never think that I would make friends with so many members. My husband moved us out here 3 years ago to have a piece of land that was free of noise, light, and people pollution. Welp... look where we are now. All working together, sharing our expertise, doing our best to fix a road... who has ever done that before??? None of us. All we can do is keep moving forward, try to keep up our community spirits, stay positive, and do our best.
Any and all help will be accepted. We need a lot of gravel for one.... LIKE ALOT. Culverts need to be put in, engineering done, quite possibly French Drains (an idea one developer through out today) but that is after paying a Geotech to come out and do soil samples. All add up to dollar after dollar!!
WOW though! I mean, for real, I never imagined in my life that this would be something I would have to do, let alone learn all the ins and outs.
A catastrophic landslide on the only road out of Skyview Estates has left our community of 44 homes, over 120 people, stranded on our hill.
Children are struggling to get down to school; some are having to stay away from home with friends or family so they can make it to class. Our community has elderly and disabled neighbors who are stuck at home. Many of us are unable to get to work, and our access to groceries and supplies is getting slim.
Some of our homes are run on propane for heat, hot water and cooking, and when tanks run out we will not have a way for trucks to deliver refills. Garbage is building up without ability for pickup. In case of emergency, fire trucks and ambulances cannot reach us. The list of problems we face gets bigger the longer it takes to find a fix.
We are currently left with ATVs, for those who have them, or walking more than a mile of steep uphill climb on unsteady road - a trek not everyone is able to make. The remainder of the hill could collapse at any point. We are desperately searching for another access point but we have yet to solidify temporary access for vehicles. Even when we do, replacement of our road will still need to happen.
Since the road is privately owned by the community, the county does not cover repairs - it is left up to us to fix. Initial estimates have put the reconstruction cost at around $2 Million — an impossible feat for one small community to pull from their family pockets.
Our reserve funds will deplete quickly, and even though a state of emergency has been issued for our county and our board is searching for grant funding, this isn’t something we can do alone. We are asking for your help.
Please consider donating what you can manage and share our story with your community. Funds will go to offset enormous out-of-pocket costs by the residents here. Any amount that you can give makes a difference that will be felt by every one of us.
This group of neighbors has been incredible to watch despite the tragedy. Crews of neighbors have cleared debris in late night work parties, shared resources, grocery trips, hot showers — the list goes on, topped with a whole lot of moral support. We’ve relied on one another to get through, and it has been amazing to see people care for each other.
We just can’t build this road alone. Please be a part of our greater community, near and far, friends and neighbors, and help reconnect us to the world. It takes a village, and we are forever thankful for you being a part of ours.
We have so much gratitude for how people have shown up for us.
Sincerely,
The Residents of SkyView Estates
**All funds will be used for mitigation of pending costs for road repair or replacement **
See news coverage and additional photos below:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mudslide-closes-only-road-to-120-person-neighborhood-near-monroe/
https://www.king5.com/video/news/local/monroeflooding/281-19ae6399-72bb-4cdd-9232-67719c1cb3d8?jwsource=fb&fbclid=IwAR1QNwvFJavUdkLR3gzkFqVUsx4PV_kjbF1dinNNQ-2S4fm9BJHJqhryMSc
https://q13fox.com/2020/02/10/storm-aftermath-mudslide-leaves-crumbling-path-to-hilltop-neighborhood-in-monroe/?fbclid=IwAR2anPb3jePj_qs39OagL8viODrTnF7FiBLkYYdK8D6ZD0pnuCFtyDlA2Uk
https://komonews.com/news/local/private-road-damaged-by-slide-near-monroe-isolating-44-homes?
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/mudslide-east-of-monroe-indefinitely-strands-a-neighborhood/fbclid=IwAR0XFXrRFygH3ufg_38_ThyiMJ40T_E5DPbXGrJtz8nYufoobvtQ3EEcdmw
Photo: Initial photo of the damage caused by the landslide taken by a Skyview resident (02/06/2020)
Photo: Another photo taken of the initial devasation.
Photo: Community effort between Skyview and our local Ben Howard neighbors to clear out the trees and debris (2/06/2020)
Skyview and our neighbors worked through the night to ensure the road was clear. The extent of the damage is ever changing. The pavement continues to crumble, the weather is unpredictable, and the soil keeps shifting.
We are currently left with the choice of using ATVs, for those who have them, or walking more than a mile of steep uphill incline on crumbling road. This is a trek not everyone is able to make. We are desperately searching for another access point but we have yet to solidify temporary access for vehicles. Even when we do, reporation or replacement of our road will still be necessary.
Photo: Looking for a way out, the neighbors caravan through the woods trying to find a route (02/09/2020)
Photo: The reason we live here. Monroe, WA (02/09/2020)
Who you are: My name is Desiree Contessa
Where you're from: I live in Skyview Estates in Monroe, Wa. I own a home in the neighborhood that the road collapse happened at on February 6th, 2020.
I actually went down 260th maybe 15-20min before this failure occurred. I was running into town to grab my kids from the bus stop. I was notified of the road collapse by another neighbor. She called in disbelief. She told me what happened. She told me that our road was gone. I received the call at 4pm pst.... I left our neighborhood at 3:30/3:45. That's some crazy stuff. I was most likely the last person to drive down our hill. What if the slide had happened when I was on it? I have thought about that, catastrophic... but I have to let those thoughts go.
Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for: My relationship to the parties has become so much closer than I ever thought. We all have 5 acre parcels. There are 44 parcels. 120 plus community members. I have met so many more members in the last 3 weeks than I have in the 3 years I have lived here.
How the funds will be used (be specific as possible): Well, all funds raised are going to be transferred into an account that was opened specifically for fundraising. It is in our neighborhood's non-profit name: Skyview Estates Community Association with all the appropriate TIN information attached. The beneficiary is Korren Karahalios. She is a board member who is also a signer on that account.
All the funds raised will be split evenly between each parcel owners share for the reparation and construction of our road. Currently, we are all required via a vote of our community to pay a $4000 deposit for the road construction. This money will be able to negate some of that financial burden on each of us.
Yes, this is not a county road. It is a private road in our non-profit associations name for our benefit. We are asking for help because this burden is very hard for us to bare. We are all hard working community members who have all come together. We all share a common goal.
I would never think that I would make friends with so many members. My husband moved us out here 3 years ago to have a piece of land that was free of noise, light, and people pollution. Welp... look where we are now. All working together, sharing our expertise, doing our best to fix a road... who has ever done that before??? None of us. All we can do is keep moving forward, try to keep up our community spirits, stay positive, and do our best.
Any and all help will be accepted. We need a lot of gravel for one.... LIKE ALOT. Culverts need to be put in, engineering done, quite possibly French Drains (an idea one developer through out today) but that is after paying a Geotech to come out and do soil samples. All add up to dollar after dollar!!
WOW though! I mean, for real, I never imagined in my life that this would be something I would have to do, let alone learn all the ins and outs.
A catastrophic landslide on the only road out of Skyview Estates has left our community of 44 homes, over 120 people, stranded on our hill.
Children are struggling to get down to school; some are having to stay away from home with friends or family so they can make it to class. Our community has elderly and disabled neighbors who are stuck at home. Many of us are unable to get to work, and our access to groceries and supplies is getting slim.
Some of our homes are run on propane for heat, hot water and cooking, and when tanks run out we will not have a way for trucks to deliver refills. Garbage is building up without ability for pickup. In case of emergency, fire trucks and ambulances cannot reach us. The list of problems we face gets bigger the longer it takes to find a fix.
We are currently left with ATVs, for those who have them, or walking more than a mile of steep uphill climb on unsteady road - a trek not everyone is able to make. The remainder of the hill could collapse at any point. We are desperately searching for another access point but we have yet to solidify temporary access for vehicles. Even when we do, replacement of our road will still need to happen.
Since the road is privately owned by the community, the county does not cover repairs - it is left up to us to fix. Initial estimates have put the reconstruction cost at around $2 Million — an impossible feat for one small community to pull from their family pockets.
Our reserve funds will deplete quickly, and even though a state of emergency has been issued for our county and our board is searching for grant funding, this isn’t something we can do alone. We are asking for your help.
Please consider donating what you can manage and share our story with your community. Funds will go to offset enormous out-of-pocket costs by the residents here. Any amount that you can give makes a difference that will be felt by every one of us.
This group of neighbors has been incredible to watch despite the tragedy. Crews of neighbors have cleared debris in late night work parties, shared resources, grocery trips, hot showers — the list goes on, topped with a whole lot of moral support. We’ve relied on one another to get through, and it has been amazing to see people care for each other.
We just can’t build this road alone. Please be a part of our greater community, near and far, friends and neighbors, and help reconnect us to the world. It takes a village, and we are forever thankful for you being a part of ours.
We have so much gratitude for how people have shown up for us.
Sincerely,
The Residents of SkyView Estates
**All funds will be used for mitigation of pending costs for road repair or replacement **
See news coverage and additional photos below:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mudslide-closes-only-road-to-120-person-neighborhood-near-monroe/
https://www.king5.com/video/news/local/monroeflooding/281-19ae6399-72bb-4cdd-9232-67719c1cb3d8?jwsource=fb&fbclid=IwAR1QNwvFJavUdkLR3gzkFqVUsx4PV_kjbF1dinNNQ-2S4fm9BJHJqhryMSc
https://q13fox.com/2020/02/10/storm-aftermath-mudslide-leaves-crumbling-path-to-hilltop-neighborhood-in-monroe/?fbclid=IwAR2anPb3jePj_qs39OagL8viODrTnF7FiBLkYYdK8D6ZD0pnuCFtyDlA2Uk
https://komonews.com/news/local/private-road-damaged-by-slide-near-monroe-isolating-44-homes?
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/mudslide-east-of-monroe-indefinitely-strands-a-neighborhood/fbclid=IwAR0XFXrRFygH3ufg_38_ThyiMJ40T_E5DPbXGrJtz8nYufoobvtQ3EEcdmw
Photo: Initial photo of the damage caused by the landslide taken by a Skyview resident (02/06/2020)Photo: Another photo taken of the initial devasation. Photo: Community effort between Skyview and our local Ben Howard neighbors to clear out the trees and debris (2/06/2020)Skyview and our neighbors worked through the night to ensure the road was clear. The extent of the damage is ever changing. The pavement continues to crumble, the weather is unpredictable, and the soil keeps shifting.
We are currently left with the choice of using ATVs, for those who have them, or walking more than a mile of steep uphill incline on crumbling road. This is a trek not everyone is able to make. We are desperately searching for another access point but we have yet to solidify temporary access for vehicles. Even when we do, reporation or replacement of our road will still be necessary.
Photo: Looking for a way out, the neighbors caravan through the woods trying to find a route (02/09/2020)Photo: The reason we live here. Monroe, WA (02/09/2020)
Fundraising team: Landslide of Love ❤️ (2)
Desiree Contessa
Organizer
Monroe, WA
Korren Karahalios
Beneficiary
John & Marie Howard
Team member
