We arrived at about 8 am. The bridge stone bridge was closed. The area needed to be cleared for health and safety. Port-o-lets had been lost and tipped over, loosing their contents, and propane tanks were lost as well. It all had to be cleared before we could enter.
As we waited to see our fates, no hospitality was extended to us. No coffee, no food, nothing. We were told to go up the hill to Wired at eat there. A good Samaritan who lives in the building by the stone bridge brought us soda, coffee, and doughnuts. He refused payment, he surrendered his receipt hoping one of us would be reimbursed somehow.
My phone finally rung. I was told "it would be a few hours" before we could get in, that Volksplatz and Handwerksplatz would be closed for the day and that I would be called again when I could come down and enter the premises. I never received another phone call. It has been four days.
About an hour later we were let in. I immediately started taking pictures and we started breaking down our stuff. We decided to triage it when we got home, determine the extent of our damage later, but to stay and help our friends pack instead.
The rains were on and off, we were continually told to hurry up because evacuation was imminent.
Simple questions revealed there was no plan for this. I asked what to do with things in my tent that didn't belong to me- is there a central repository for lost items- no.. I asked if there will be a way for us to trade photos we may need to insurance issues- like a Flickr account- No. I asked if there was a dumpster nearby so that we can toss rather than bring home waterlogged, mud logged, who knows what logged, items... no (but one later arrived).
A little after noon we left. We got home, cleaned up, and got real food.
I still have a ton of questions. Many based on hearsay and anecdotal stories. Why were volunteers not allowed to come in and help the clean up? Why does the creek not have a maximum height it reaches before being evacuated (this should be MUCH lower than the Fire Department's number)? Why has no one contacted me to do any damage control- to see how I am- to see how I fared?
All I can say is that when you are a crafter you know stuff happens. Weather happens, theft happens, just about anything can happen. How it is handled after it happens is what separates the men from the boys. As of right now I personally do not feel like I was among men that night, or since.
I can say that this event has changed me. I will no longer ignore that feeling in my gut to "get out" from any situation, at a craft show or otherwise. I am the master of my own destiny from now on. I will accept any repercussions from my actions, but the safety of me, my family, and my stuff comes first from now on.
NOTE: Please see my post of 8.22 to see the resolution to this event. I am happy to say that I have been satisfied with the results and response by ArtsQuest.
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