PORT ANGELES — The Plunkin Shack reopened Tuesday after three weeks of pumping and scrubbing to get the Marine Drive eatery in shape following a flood that sent 3 feet of water into the basement.
“It was a long haul to get here,” said Patti Larson, who owns the restaurant at 704 Marine Drive, Port Angeles, with her husband, Brian.
“I’m just glad to be back. It feels good.”
Tumwater Creek overflowed its banks during heavy rain on Nov. 16. Alder trees hindered the creek’s passage next to Westport Shipyard.
The trees were state-protected salmon habitat, so they could not be removed until the Port of Port Angeles declared an emergency immediately after the flood.
Some of Tumwater Creek flowed into the Larsons’ basement.
To reopen, the Larsons — with the help of friends, employees and even customers — pumped more than 62,000 gallons of water from the basement, and tossed out about 4,000 pounds of equipment and food.
New equipment
“We had to put in a new furnace, a hot water tank and sanitize and sanitize and sanitize,” said Larson.
All of the restaurant’s stored food was spoiled, since electricity had to be shut off, and all of its catering equipment was ruined.
Larson said that while she doesn’t know if she will be able to restart the catering-side of the business, the Plunkin Shack still can make large orders to go.
In total, Larson estimates that the flood cost them $80,000, all it out of their own pockets since the couple didn’t have flood insurance.
“It was almost like opening up a brand new restaurant in the end,” she said.
Larson said that she and her husband are paying those bills as they come in, and hope that their income over the next few months will be enough to cover it all.
The Larsons also have another new expense — flood insurance.
Larson said she will seek it through the Federal Emergency Management Agency because she doesn’t want to be put in the same position again.
“My mouth was open for three days,” she said. “I kept shaking my head and walking around. It was amazing.
“Everyone should get flood insurance because you just don’t want to clean up a mess like that.”
But through it all, Larson has tried to find humor in her situation where she can.
That is shown through the selection of Tuesday’s special, the salmon burger.
“A few of the customers got a laugh out of it,” she said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.