Everett Daily Herald, June 01, 2014

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Snohomish wins 4A state soccer title, C1

SUNDAY, 06.01.2014

OSO MUDSLIDE

Disaster response gets local emphasis

EVERETT, WASHINGTON

WWW.HERALDNET.COM

$1.50 (HIGHER IN OUTLYING AREAS)

Everett family fights to keep disabled girl in U.S.

The invaluable work of Oso and Darrington residents shows that government needs the community’s help in rescue and recovery. By Rikki King and Scott North Herald Writers

OSO — All disasters begin and end at the local level. In Oso, that holds true. The scope of the March 22 mudslide — the destruction, the unknowns and the dangers of the mud — changed the unwritten rules of emergency response in Snohomish County. For official searchers, it became clear early on that locals needed to be involved in the disaster response and recovery efforts. Much of that was unprecedented. The change began from the earliest moments of the crisis, when locals disobeyed orders to stay out of the mud and continued to insist they would take part in the rescue and recovery efforts. “And thank God they did,” Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary said. “As I look back on this whole event, I think we’re changed in how we see community involvement in a natural disaster. The mentality that first responders show up and do the job has been replaced by, ‘No, it is a community event. Everybody jumps in.’ “You deal with those decisions afterward, but you don’t worry about whether somebody’s got a uniform on or not; you take the help and you go forward.” See RESPONSE, Page A5

A HERALD SPECIAL REPORT Read more about the community’s response to the Oso mudslide. www.heraldnet.com/therising

Celebrations . . . . . . . . . . . .A8 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E2 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .D4 Dear Abby. . . . . . . . . . . . . .D5 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .D4 Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Moneywise. . . . . . . . . . . . .E1 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D5 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6 Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . .B9

MARK MULLIGAN / THE HERALD

Oksana Nesterenko (left) is worried that her daughter, Angelina, could face deportation to Ukraine after recently turning 18.

Angelina Nesterenko has gained a sense of belonging in Everett. Now, she faces the threat of deportation to chaotic Ukraine, where her family says mentally disabled people are subject to ridicule and denied education and other opportunities. By Noah Haglund Herald Writer

EVERETT — Angelina Nesterenko’s relatives take pride in the life they’ve made for her in the United States. Since arriving two years ago, the mentally disabled teen has been able to attend school for the first time. That was an opportunity denied her in Ukraine. After starting in a special education program at Mariner High School, she grew more outgoing and learned some English. Though unable to care for herself, she nevertheless reached new milestones. She can get dressed

and tell people when she’s hungry. She no longer needs a family member at her side throughout the night. Unlike in their home country, Angelina’s family feels comfortable taking her out in public, knowing she won’t be subjected to ridicule. “No one laughs at her here,” her mother, Oksana Nesterenko, said in Russian. “There, people would look at her and laugh.” Last month, their new sense of belonging came into doubt, along with Angelina’s U.S. immigration status. See ANGELINA, Page A5

“Angelina never went to school ever, and it was her dream to go to school. I’m sure in Ukraine if she got this attention when she was little, she’d be in a different place.” — Dema Nesterenko, Angelina Nesterenko’s eldest sibling

CAMPING WITHOUT WORRY

EVERETT BUDGET DEBATED

SCRIBER LAKE STORIES

How to sleep under the stars in safety and comfort. Great Outdoors, D6

Does city need spending cuts or a new approach? Viewpoints, B9

Teen authors deal with troubling issues in new book. Page D1

Superb 69/49, C8

SUNDAY

VOL. 114, NO. 118 © 2014 THE DAILY HERALD CO.

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