Lake Oswego Hunt wasn’t caught blindsided by the January storm. With issues like plumbing failures having arisen in previous years during inclement weather, the club drained its pipes, placed heat lamps where needed and was cautiously optimistic that the equestrian center on Iron Mountain Boulevard would be minimally impacted.
“We didn’t escape the damage, unfortunately,” Lake Oswego Hunt board member Kerry Griffin said.
The club faces many thousands of dollars of damages, including repairing a failed plumbing and fire suppression system and a flooded event arena. Board members also hope to build a system that will be able to weather a future storm. The club has started a GoFundMe fundraiser that has raised over $11,000, with the goal being $30,000. However, board members say even that figure won’t nearly cover all expenses. The club is also looking into potentially receiving federal disaster relief funding as well as money from nonprofit organizations.
“We’re very grateful for all of our donors and those who have helped support the Hunt in the past or already supported the GoFundMe,” board member Tim Long said. “We weren’t sure what the response was going to be, and we put out a number that is big … but it’s nothing compared to what we need to get back on our feet and we’re very grateful for the community for supporting this institution.”
Damages from the storm may sound all too familiar to Lake Oswego residents still reeling from a January event that brought down myriad trees and left thousands without power. The facility did not have power for three days, leading to, pipes freezing, subsequently breaking and water flooding the arena.
The arena damage may be the biggest challenge, particularly because the club can’t host events there and classes have to be outside during the winter months. Events are one of Lake Oswego Hunt’s largest sources of revenue and the club also could not hold classes for a while following the storm — another financial blow.
Braving these interruptions is a major challenge for a local nonprofit that relies on volunteer support. This is partially why the club hopes to invest in system upgrades.
“We’re also looking into strategies to help keep these spaces heated — not the entire barn but more vulnerable spaces heated during power outages. Lastly we have a very old plumbing system that is subject to failure, freezing or rusting. We would like to invest in upgrading that so it’s more resilient to reduce risk of flooding in the future,” Long said.
Griffin was optimistic that the club would survive this tough time, mentioning support from the broader community to keep the land an equestrian facility rather than a housing development.
“We have a really dedicated, passionate community of people that are in the equestrian world, our Lake Oswego community and others including businesses that really value what Lake Oswego Hunt is all about and the 19 acres of open space,” Griffin said. “A lot of them know it’s zoned as residential development, so there is a persistent threat that if we fail financially or to take care of the building it could theoretically become a housing development. People don’t want that; they love the building and open space. There’s a lot of people out there who have in the past and continue to make sure we survive this and continue to thrive.”
To view the GoFundMe page, visit www.gofundme.com/f/loh-storm-recovery.
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