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Greetings!
We write to you with some continued updates to the events of the last few weeks.
As you likely know, on December 13, most of Holden’s staff and all of IMCO/Rio Tinto staff were evacuated from the Village by helicopter. Landslides and mudslides earlier in the week had closed the forest service road up the valley. With repairs to the road not possible until spring and predictions of future landslides and inclement winter weather that would make helicopter evacuations impossible for days or weeks at a time, the decision was made to evacuate the majority of Villagers. A crew of eleven staff stayed behind to continue winterizing buildings and systems, while plans were being developed for how to safely care for the Village through the winter.
On December 20, the remaining Holden staff were evacuated after significant damage to the intake of the hydro-electric plant made electricity and communications unreliable and repairs increasingly risky amidst another winter storm. The intention was to get the remaining crew out of harm’s way while continuing to develop safe and responsible plans for caring for the Village over the winter. Our first priority has been and will continue to be the safety of all Villagers involved.
Several days later, on December 23, Holden leadership was made aware that three individuals had entered the Village without the consent or knowledge of any Holden leadership, in an effort to repair the damaged hydro system. Although these people had significant skill and experience in navigating winter wilderness conditions and familiarity with Holden utilities, their choice was unsanctioned and uncoordinated with the repair plans already underway. It has slowed down and complicated the planning and coordination process. Internal plans and communication with external partnership have been made significantly more difficult and fraught. Communication with these three individuals has now been established in the interests of preventing unintended harm to infrastructure and negotiating their safe exit from the Village. It appears that the hydro system is temporarily fixed, though many details remain unknown.
While we assume these individuals have good intentions for Holden, we do not condone or support these actions. This has created significant liability both for the individuals and for Holden Village. Actions like these expose individuals to significant safety risks without access to medical supplies, rescue support, or information on weather, avalanche risk, or additional slides in the area. This risk extends to rescue crews who might respond to an emergency. Unauthorized activities may also lead to legal consequences from outside agencies.
These actions also create risk and liability for Holden Village, as an organization. There may be further damage to Holden’s infrastructure if the shutdown procedures are improperly reversed. Due to the recent winterizing efforts, the Village utilities are in a different state at this present moment than a month ago, let alone years ago. Even familiarity with Holden systems does not guarantee effectiveness in restarting them. Unexpected occupancy in the Village also creates a risk of further damage to Holden property without our usual mitigations in place. Finally, these actions are potentially damaging to the working relationship between Holden’s leadership and other entities like Chelan County Sheriff’s Department and the USFS, which may make it more difficult or impossible for Holden to return this winter. The Holden Board has responsibility to safeguard the legal and political wellbeing of the organization and takes this situation very seriously.
We again implore the entire Holden community – Do not attempt similar actions. Do not enter the Village. Do not take unapproved action in an attempt to help. If you are looking for ways to support Holden that do not create political, legal, and safety challenges, please refer to our recent newsletter and stay tuned for ongoing ideas on what is most helpful right now.
Holden Village’s leadership team is currently formulating plans for how to safely return to the Village. First and foremost is how to prioritize the wellbeing of Holden staff and volunteers. Our Operations Manager and Risk and Safety Lead have built on prior planning efforts to create a “Safe Return to Village” plan. The plan includes an outline of roles and responsibilities for those in the Village, standard operating procedures for mitigating the higher-than-usual risks the team will face this winter, emergency medical processes, new communication standards, revised health screenings, helicopter resupply rhythms, and additional protocols where appropriate.
This planning work reflects the primary value that Holden Village places on the lives of volunteers and employees. At the same time, our plan continues to be to reduce and eliminate as much damage to Holden’s infrastructure as possible. We do not take for granted the value of every single person who comes to Holden, nor the very difficult and intensive work that has been done to make this remarkable remote village a reality. We are grateful for the hundreds of staff, volunteers, angels, board members, and outside experts who have contributed to the safety and wellbeing of the Village and the Villagers who make it all possible and worthwhile.
In these times of uncertainty and peril, we must remember that although Villagers often say that Holden Village exists against staggering odds, we are remarkably resilient and capable. That although Holden enjoys a precarious and hard-won existence, we are not fragile. Holden Village remains a living community that is not defined by the status of our single road or the kilowatts we generate. This is a regenerative system. We have all we need pulsing through the rich soil of our community. We will return to the Village as an ecosystem ready to bring life, joined in covenant and interdependence. No other return can be sustained.
As ever, we pray for good courage to guide us, to steady us, and to bind us to one another. We pray for the healing and relief needed by each of us, in particular those whose suffering has become overwhelming. We commend one another to the larger Holden community and the gifts and skillful care that this Whole Blessed World contains.
Peace,
Holden Village Executive Committee on behalf of the Board &
Holden Village Executive Directors
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