Memo recounts boat rescue on reservoir

Group receives awards

EPHRATA - One of the last weekends of summer started pleasantly enough on the Columbia River's Wanapum Reservoir.

The weather was beautiful, according to a Sept. 29 internal memo from Grant County PUD detailing a dramatic water rescue.

Boaters were likely enjoying themselves on Aug. 30 before fall and school began.

But conditions changed abruptly when high winds reached about 60 mph.

Bill Hauger, of the Seattle-based 13th Coast Guard Auxiliary, and his crew members, Joseph LeCointe and Garrison Bromwell, said they spotted a boat having problems.

It appeared the boat's motor died and the vessel was full of water, Hauger said Wednesday.

A distressed vessel call later came into the Coast Guard for the same boat Hauger's crew already saw.

Hauger's crew reached the boat and they helped a teen-age boy and two men onto the Coast Guard's boat.

It appeared all were headed toward safety.

But 5-foot-high waves capsized the Coast Guard's boat and everyone fell into the water.

"Our first effort was to safely get them on board," Hauger said. "Before we could get a chance to talk about it, the sea conditions changed drastically. The big seas filled us up with water and we capsized."

"We had two people hanging onto my upside-down boat and three people in the boat that was barely afloat," he added.

At that point, Hauger was worried about the boaters being trapped on the rocky cliffs and being pulled toward Wanapum Dam.

He swam to shore and reached a house to call 9-1-1. Then he ran back to the water and helped everyone to safety.

"Bill's quick thinking and superb swimming ability enabled him to secure the safety of the patrons, swim to shore, run up an embankment and call 9-1-1," according to the PUD's memo to Grant PUD commissioners.

Grant County Fire Districts No. 10 and No. 11, the Grant County Sheriff's Office and Grant PUD staff also helped with the rescue.

Hauger commended the ambulance crew who treated his crew and the civilians for hypothermia. The ambulance crew arrived on the scene quickly and Hauger said he was impressed with how they handled the situation.

He also praised Grant County Deputy Darryl Hudson for his work.

"He was, as usual, an outstanding person to work with," Hauger said of Hudson. "I'm very proud of Darryl Hudson."

Hauger said he was also very proud of his crew because they stood up to the effects they faced.

"My crew was very good in the situation," he noted.

The incident prompted Grant PUD to present appreciation awards this week to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Grant County Fire Districts No. 10 and No. 11, Quilomene Yacht Club and PUD employees Rob Jordan, Christ Akerbade, Steve Horner, Curt Brewer, Chris Chamberlain, Lightvning Paul, Brad Harshman and weekend patrol staff who helped with the rescue and salvage operation.

Grant PUD Commission President Tom Flint thanked the group for rising to the needs of others during the incident.