Waiting weeks for answers on Whidbey Island landslide
Mar 29, 2013, 7:03 AM | Updated: 7:14 am
This Thursday, March 28, 2013 photo shows the upper edge where Wednesday's massive landslide meets residential lawns on Whidbey Island near Coupeville, Wash. Authorities spent the day assessing the damage and danger to homes remaining near the slide as nervous residents waited for more detailed information about how safe the area is. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
(AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
It could be weeks before we know if a hillside on Whidbey Island has stopped moving after a massive landslide on Wednesday.
A one-and-a-half mile long area was affected by the landslide that took out one home entirely and put dozens more in danger.
Christopher Schwarzen with the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management said state geologists have been trying to assess the situation.
“Their initial report says that it is slowing down. There has, again, still been some movement,” said Schwarzen. “It will take a couple of weeks to determine where there are other vulnerabilities and what steps need to be done to prevent more slides from happening, if possible.”
Most of the homes evacuated on Wednesday have been reopened, all except four. Those have been “yellow tagged” meaning the homeowners can come back to grab a few items, but it is not safe enough for them to stay overnight.
The only road in and out of the area is still covered in mud, so those residents who are returning will have to leave their cars behind.
“It is a footpath at this point. It’s a muddy path at the moment, but they’re bringing in gravel and they are going to try to stabilize that as much as possible,” said Schwarzen.
More than 60 people attended a Thursday night community meeting with officials to discuss some of the effects of the landslide that displaced 200,000 cubic yards of earth, or about 40,000 dump truck loads.
Schwarzen says residents are worried about looters, so the sheriff’s office plans extra patrols.
Find more landslide news:
Photos: Massive landslide threatens homes on Whidbey Island
Landslide destroys one home; threatens more on Whidbey Island
How to insure your home if you live on a cliff
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
