Six people are missing after record rains triggered a mudslide the size of two football fields that slammed into homes in Alaska.
The landslide covered Juneau, in 9 feet of mud, trees and debris, with the neighborhood of Haines in the southeast of the state bearing the brunt of the damage.
Troopers and police evacuated residents by boat but a search for the missing was suspended late on Wednesday ‘due to rumbling unstable ground,’ troopers said.
Six people are missing after record rains triggered a mudslide the size of two football fields that slammed into homes in Alaska
The landslide covered Juneau, in 9 feet of mud, trees and debris, with the neighborhood of Haines in the southeast of the state bearing the brunt of the damage
Troopers and police evacuated residents by boat but a search for the missing was suspended late on Wednesday ‘due to rumbling unstable ground,’ the troopers said
The storm hit the southeastern Alaskan region of Juneau with record rainfall, damaging a number of homes
It was one of several reported mudslides after a period of intense rain that authorities said destroyed at least four houses and damaged others.
Search and rescue efforts were suspended Wednesday evening as rains continued to batter the area.
A National Guard helicopter will fly in rescuers, search dogs and medics from Juneau on Thursday to continue efforts
A flash flood warning was in effect until late Wednesday. Haines Borough Mayor Douglas Olerud told The Associated Press search efforts will resume Thursday morning.
It was one of several reported mudslides after a period of intense rain that authorities said destroyed at least four houses and damaged others
Search and rescue efforts were suspended Wednesday evening as rains continued to batter the area
A National Guard helicopter will fly in rescuers, search dogs and medics from Juneau on Thursday to continue efforts
‘The soil isn´t stable enough right now,’ he said, adding the state will be providing additional resources Thursday. The borough has about 2,500 residents.
Those unaccounted for were in the Beach Road area, where the largest slide – about 600 feet wide – came down Wednesday afternoon, Olerud said. About 9 feet of mud and trees cover the area, according to the troopers.
About 30 people were evacuated, and emergency response crews rescued others, Olerud said. He did not have a total figure.
Rebecca Kameika lives on Beach Road, though closer to Haines than where the slide hit. She said slides and related road damage had left some neighborhoods inaccessible.
Those unaccounted for were in the Beach Road area, where the largest slide – about 600 feet wide – came down Wednesday afternoon
About 30 people were evacuated, and emergency response crews rescued others
She and her boyfriend were staying at his place of work; they were fine and expected their home to be, too, but evacuated as a precaution, she said.
The incident is devastating for the community, said Kameika, who set up a fundraising account and plans to work with another group to make sure the money is distributed fairly and where it’s needed.
Haines resident Luke Williams said the community is coming together. This rainstorm has been the ‘worst I have ever seen,’ he said, adding he’s lived in the area throughout his 39 years.
‘That´s the one thing special about this small town. Everyone comes together no matter how mad one person is at another. In the end if there is an emergency we all come together to help each other,’ he said.
A flash-flood warning remained in effect for Haines and other sites, and dangerous conditions continued throughout southeast Alaska
The storm set several single-day rainfall records, including 4 to 5 inches in Juneau, 5.37 inches in Skagway and 9.75 inches in the tiny fishing village of Pelican
An effort to fly search and rescue teams in a helicopter from Juneau was pushed back to Thursday morning, troopers said. The Coast Guard is also deploying forces from other ports in southeast Alaska to help.
‘At this point we are aware that damage has occurred in the town of Haines following the report of multiple landslides in the borough,’ said Capt. Stephen White, commander of Coast Guard Sector Juneau, said in a statement.
‘The scope of the damage is unknown at this time but we are proactively moving several assets and personnel to provide assistance to local first responders and the residents who may have been impacted by the landslides.’
An effort to fly search and rescue teams in a helicopter from Juneau was pushed back to Thursday morning
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched from Sitka to assist, and the Coast Guard cutters Liberty and Anacapa have been ordered to make preparations to sail to Haines to provide additional support.
A 45-foot Coast Guard response boat has also been launched from Juneau.
Olerud said the situation was moving so quickly he couldn’t provide a list of additional resources they may need.
‘Prayers help. We can always take prayers. Those always work. We need a lot of those right now,’ Olerud told the AP.
Alaskan Governor Mike Dunleavy said ‘every state resource will be made available’ to the Haines community
The storm set several single-day rainfall records, including 4 to 5 inches in Juneau, 5.37 inches in Skagway and 9.75 inches in the tiny fishing village of Pelican, according to preliminary National Weather Service figures.
A flash-flood warning remained in effect for Haines and other sites, and dangerous conditions continued throughout southeast Alaska, the National Weather Service said in a statement.
‘People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches,’ the weather service said.