January 21, 2020

Cadman Shop Steward leads team of volunteers to bring supplies to residents stranded by snow and fallen trees

While most of us on the west side of the Cascades were only briefly inconvenienced by last week’s snowfall, the impact was dire for those living along Highway 2 in the Skykomish area. Fallen trees led to the closure of Highway 2 for days on end, effectively cutting those residents off from the rest of the world. And as their food, water, and fuel supplies dwindled, it wasn’t the government, but their neighbors who rallied to support them. And among those brave volunteers was our own Local 174 member and Cadman Shop Steward Dave Mergenthaler, sacrificing his time, money, and even risking his safety to help out a community in need.

“They opened the highway up just for us,” Mergenthaler says, describing a convoy of just a handful of brave individuals who had put together a relief plan, gone shopping for essentials, and embarked on their journey from Gold Bar to reach the stranded residents. “We told the police we were going through no matter what, so they better help us. We had three or four snowplows going in front of us, and it got pretty hairy at times, with trees still falling from the snow. Thankfully WSDOT and WSP were great.”

The goal of the convoy was to bring relief to those stranded when Highway 2 was closed on Sunday night. Many residents were stranded for seven days or longer – including retirees in need of oxygen, medications, and fuel to run generators. Many residents weren’t even able to make contact with the Fire Department, because they had no power and phone lines were down.

“We went house to house, community to community, to make sure everyone was okay,” Mergenthaler said. “At one point, a bunch of volunteers dug out a house where the people had been trapped for ten days. We were out there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.”

The residents, of course, were extremely grateful for their neighbors’ sacrifice. “We got so many hugs, so many people crying. Just couldn’t believe it was us that stepped up to help, rather than the Red Cross or the government … but nope, it was just neighbors from down the road.”

For those who know Merganthaler – as a person and as a Teamster Shop Steward – this great act of sacrifice comes as no surprise. “People that know me, know that if somebody needs help, I’ll help them, no matter what,” Mergenthaler said simply.

“We are so proud of Dave for making this heroic sacrifice to help people in need, without a single moment’s hesitation,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “As Teamsters, we live and die by solidarity, and it is wonderful to see our members practicing those same values in their communities. Dave stepped up when no one else would, and we are extremely lucky to have him on our team.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,600 working men and women in Seattle and the surrounding areas. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.