MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Families, friends await news on missing in Snohomish County mudslide

Mar 24, 2014, 7:06 AM | Updated: 10:16 am

It’s rescue effort – not a recovery. That’s the message from the Snohomish County Fire Chief who is hopeful those that are missing will still be found alive.

The death toll grew to eight on Sunday, and now officials say they have received 108 missing person reports.

Steelhead Drive, a roadway that falls along the Stillaguamish River and Highway 530 has virtually disappeared. “That neighborhood is not there anymore,” said Snohomish County Fire Chief Travis Hott.

Elijah Young was lucky – he’s a kid living with his family on Steelhead Drive. “It was this huge wave that crashed into our house, and went and crashed down. I just ran screaming ‘mudslide,’ at my house. I just thought, I’m going to die.”

For the family and friends of those still missing, the wait for news has been agonizing, while for others – getting news has been even worse.

Hott sounded emotional as he made the announcement Sunday, “I am saddened to inform you that we have discovered four additional fatalities.”

Among those still missing is a family from Steelhead Drive – a couple with two young children. Another missing is a 52-year-old man, who according to his daughter, was replacing a hot water heater in a home that has been completely buried by mud.

Dayn Brunner is waiting for word about his 36-year-old sister Summer Raffo who was driving to a friend’s house Saturday at exactly the time the slide barreled across SR 530. “She left at 10:30. The slide occurred at, everybody’s saying 10:47 a.m. – the time frame would have put her right the area. She never showed up at the friend’s house to shoe the horses. She has her cell phone.”

All Brunner can do is wait, and he was holding back tears as he said, “As far as I know it, deep down – is that she’s gone. She’s buried in there, so it’s going to be more of a recovery than a rescue.”

In all, 30 homes are believed to be destroyed by the mudslide that covered a 1-square-mile area of State Route 530 near the town of Oso. Sierra Sansaver told KIRO Radio’s Brandi Kruse she was one of the first on scene, and she knows people who are still missing.

“I can’t even describe how crazy it was, because honestly, it was a horrific site,” Sansaver said. “People screaming, crying, running into the rubbish of just all the houses.”

Hott said the list of those that are missing could grow if there were people in cars along SR 530 when the mudslide hit.

MyNorthwest.com’s Alyssa Kleven contributed to this report.

MyNorthwest News

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

46 minutes ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

‘Kia Boys’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

2 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

3 hours ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

4 hours ago

Everett boy missing...

Sam Campbell

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

5 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

15 hours ago

Families, friends await news on missing in Snohomish County mudslide