Some people could be missing following a landslide which damaged at least two homes and engulfed the Zimovia Highway approximately 11 miles to the west of Wrangell on Monday night.
According to local emergency warnings and posts on social media from people living nearby, the slide happened at about 9 p.m. Residents who live as much from five miles were reported to have heard the landslide in local social media channels.
As as of the time of 6 a.m. Tuesday, numerous details are still unknown. Wrangell administration officials have not officially declared the evacuation plan for of the areas close to the landslide.
Wrangell The interim Borough manager Mason Villarma declined to comment on the public at night about people who might possibly be injured or missing, however officials suggested that other homes might have been affected as well as the two homes that were destroyed. Through social networks, several families from the area have reported having been evacuated by boats over the course of a night.
A little over three inches of rainfall fell on Wrangell in a 24-hour span starting early on Monday morning.
Local officials have said that preliminary measurements indicate that the slide is about 200 feet long, and extends from the hills towards the ocean. However, due to the unstable terrain in the area of the slide officials have said it’s still not possible to estimate the full extent of the damage.
The first responders from the local area arrived on the scene, they found that trees were falling and cracking around the region. Although some search and rescue efforts were ongoing through the night, the majority of volunteers were removed from the landslide because of persistent concerns regarding security of the region.
In order to resume a full-scale search and rescue mission the teams are waiting for an evaluation of the area by a geologist from the state who is expected to arrive on Tuesday weather permitting.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed early on Tuesday morning that it has been “actively involved” in helping Wrangell in landslide mitigation – which includes the diverting of the cutter’s 154-foot length Bailey Barco into the town, which will assist with the assessment of the site out of the water. The spokesperson also said that state troopers also have requested assistance from the assistance of a Coast Guard helicopter to help in aerial searches and site inspection. The helicopter is expected to arrive at the site sometime after the first light.
Local organizations and businesses like Harbor Light Church, Harbor Light Church and the Stikine Inn offered food and lodging for those affected by the slide, or who were concerned over the safety of the other hillsides in the region. Wrangell Parks and Recreation’s doors are accessible to the public Tuesdays at no cost.
The slide also cut off power to an undetermined number of homes along the road. At the time of writing, the morning of Tuesday, Light & Power did not have a timeframe for the time when power will be restored.
This is a breaking news item. Stay tuned for news updates.
