Storm results in costly damage for Blaine, Birch Bay

By Stefanie Donahue

Upwards of $5 million in damage was incurred locally from the December 20 storm that left Birch Bay Drive in tatters, according to estimates from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).

“While all of Whatcom County has been affected by this event, hardest hit was Birch Bay where significant road damage has occurred,” said John Gargett, deputy director of the WCSO division of emergency management, in a statement.

Gusts peaked at 60 mph and sustained winds reached 50 mph during the storm, which hit the hardest between 1:45 and 3:45 p.m., Gargett said. Low atmospheric pressure caused a storm surge in Birch Bay that lifted 3-to-5-foot waves over the drive, crashing into businesses and homes.

Power outages were reported for thousands of Puget Sound Energy customers across Whatcom County. Some households in the southern portion of Birch Bay, including Point Whitehorn, were without power for 18 to 20 hours, Gargett said.

At least 12 homes were damaged on Birch Bay Drive as well as approximately 10 businesses, Gargett said. Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar, located at 7829 Birch Bay Drive, was damaged so severely it was red-tagged by the county, meaning it is unsafe to enter.

Recognized by its bright-blue exterior, the restaurant opened in May. A statement posted to Facebook on behalf of Bay Breeze staff and owner Chris Choi said the restaurant would be forced to cancel all events and close until further notice.

“We promise to keep everyone posted on what the future holds for the Breeze as we figure things out but it is going to take some time before we have any real information to share,” Choi wrote. “Thank you all for your support. We are Birch Bay strong.”

To lend support to the restaurant and its employees, staff at The Beach at Birch Bay and Boardwalk Restaurant hosted a benefit on December 27. The event featured a silent auction and a performance by The Replayzmentz, among others.

“We are humbled by the generosity of our community,” read a statement from Bay Breeze. “We thank each and everyone one of you for reaching out and coming together to help us during this difficult time.”

In addition to damaging about a dozen residences in Birch Bay, the storm forced at least two families out of their homes, Gargett said. One family had to relocate to Bellingham temporarily because their home was floating, held down only by plumbing.

The most costly and time-consuming repair will be to Birch Bay Drive, which was severely undermined by wave action resulting in large cracks and subsidence of the road bed.

Currently, one northbound lane is open between Harborview and Shintaffer with a 10 mph speed limit, according to the WCSO. Southbound traffic from Birch Bay Village and Birch Point must use Shintaffer to Lincoln and Anderson Roads.

“There is no date for repairs to Birch Bay Drive between Harborview and Shintaffer at this time,” according to the WCSO.

Both north and southbound lanes of Birch Bay Drive south of Harborview are open, but the shoulders remain closed and pedestrians and bicyclists should use “extreme caution.”

With a ‘Whatcom County Proclamation of Emergency’ in effect, the county is in the process of cleaning up and collecting reports to determine the extent of the damage. The reports will soon be compiled and submitted to the state, Gargett said.

To report damages, individuals and businesses can call the Whatcom Unified Emergency Coordination Center Damage Assessment line at 360/788-5311. Callers will be routed to a voicemail and calls will be returned starting on January 2. To learn more about storm damage repair, visit bit.ly/2VkMdpD.

So far, Gargett said an estimated $4 to $5 million in damages has been reported for Blaine and Birch Bay combined – but that amount isn’t final and is subject to change.

During a public meeting on December 27 at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, county

staff informed the approximately 100 people in attendance about the storm and its impact. With no set date in sight in which to repair Birch Bay Drive, Gargett said, “the county is willing to work with the community to try and find solutions.”

In the meantime, Gargett assured that the WCSO, and other res

ponding agencies, are doing what they can to ensure the public remains safe. “It’s important that we view this as a community,” he said. “I think the general feeling is ‘let’s get through this together.’”