Slow moving landslide near Fall City prompts evacuations
Feb 10, 2020, 2:50 PM | Updated: 5:19 pm
King County Road Services is warning of a slow moving landslide near Fall City. (King County Road Services via Twitter)
(King County Road Services via Twitter)
Dozens of residents are being told to evacuate due to a “slow moving” landslide near Fall City.
Full list of road closures in King County
The landslide was reported around 2:15 p.m. Monday near State Route 202 and 356th Drive SE — located just east of Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course.
According to the King County Emergency Operations Center, an unstable slope in the area threatens to cut off 356th Drive SE — the sole access road to 78 nearby residences.
King County Road Services Division Director Rick Brater said in a news conference on Monday that crews have not closed the road yet, but if they see a significant amount of movement, they will close the road and people in the area will be landlocked.
Residents are asked to leave the area immediately and officials said it could be an extended period of time before the area stabilizes.
“There’s another storm coming in later in the week, so this is the best time to leave,” Brater reiterated.
“For residents who choose not to leave, they may be isolated for an extended period with no way in or out,” a spokesperson for King County said in a tweet.
County officials said a soils expert will arrive on scene Tuesday to determine the next steps. Brater explained that January was very wet across the Pacific Northwest and this latest storm was “the last straw.”
“We’re seeing some changes that we have not seen in the past,” Brater said.
He said they have reached out to FEMA and FHWA to see what kind of financial relief they can provide.
KIRO 7 News contributed to this report.
