Today the Washington State Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8690, sponsored by Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, honoring those whose hard work and dedication assisted in the swift recovery effort following the Nile Valley Landslide on Oct. 11.

“On October 11 the Nile Valley landslide devastated our community, forcing many people out of their homes and completely destroying others,” King said. “I would like to acknowledge all of those whose hard work contributed to the recovery effort.”

King’s resolution honored Gov. Christine Gregoire, Washington State Department of Transportation employees, Yakima County Public Services, and numerous other state and local agencies who aided the recovery effort.

“First, it is about how the people and businesses of the Nile Valley came together to help and support each other and how they worked with all of these agencies to further the recovery effort. They showed all of us how to handle a disaster, setting a high standard to achieve in time of adversity,” King said.

“Second, it is the tireless efforts of all the men and women from these groups and agencies who put aside all of their worries about jurisdiction,” King added. “They focused on the job at hand and accomplished it. This is how our government should work and they showed all of us that it can be done.”

Present for the reading of the resolution were: Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita; Yakima County Commissioner Kevin Bouchey; Vern Redifer, Yakima County Public Services Director; Rick Gregory, Yakima County Construction Engineer; Russ Kelly, Yakima County Utility Coordinator; Joel Freudenthal, Yakima County Natural Resource Specialist; Don Whitehouse, Washington State Department of Transportation South Central Region Administrator; Corie Henke, WSDOT Field Engineer; and Jason Smith, WSDOT Region Environmental Manager.