Cleanup efforts begin, crews assess further risk after fatal Ketchikan landslide

Construction crews statesman cleanup of nan Third Avenue Bypass. (From City of Ketchikan)

Teams of scientists, engineers, and meteorologists continued their activity Tuesday assessing nan steep hillside successful Ketchikan pursuing Sunday’s fatal landslide.

Kacie Paxton pinch nan Ketchikan Gateway Borough said section and authorities geologists pinch nan Department of Transportation are surveying nan mountainside pinch drones. 

Paxton said they are looking astatine nan tract of nan ample landslide complete Third Avenue. They are besides flying complete a secondary descent connected Copper Ridge Lane.

“They’re besides looking astatine nan area successful betwixt those 2 connected nan southbound extremity of Third Avenue up connected nan ridge, an area of imaginable concern. They want to find nan consequence of that area,” Paxton said.

To springiness nan geologists and their drones room to work, nan Federal Aviation Administration is continuing to restrict flights complete nan descent area done nan opening of adjacent week. Alaska Airlines flights successful and retired of Ketchikan will not beryllium affected.

To further measure nan consequence of different slide, nan City of Ketchikan and nan borough besides person a squad of meteorologists from nan National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on-site. Paxton said they are conducting ungraded testing and monitoring incoming rainfall levels. There has been a play of clear upwind since nan large wind that brought nan first slide, but Paxton said rainfall expected Wednesday could prolong removal orders.

The squad of authorities geologists confirmed Tuesday evening that location were nary contiguous threats for further slides adjacent to nan Third Avenue landslide.

Borough and metropolis officials will beryllium holding an info convention for nan organization astir landslide response, recovery, and prevention pinch experts and geologists from nan authorities Department of Transportation, Emergency Operations Center, nan Department of Natural Resources, and NOAA. The convention will beryllium astatine 6 p.m. Wednesday online. Questions for nan sheet tin beryllium submitted here.

Residents on First Avenue, West Third Avenue, Austin Street, and Second Avenue southbound of Whitecliff Avenue were allowed to return to their homes by Tuesday evening, but different areas on Second Avenue from nan 2100 artifact to Whitecliff Avenue stay off-limits. Crews from Juneau’s Capital City Fire and Rescue were besides onsite assessing nan structures impacted by nan slide. They confirmed 4 homes were a full nonaccomplishment pinch further harm to respective others. Paxton said cleanup efforts person begun. 

“They’re opening nan debris removal systematically, and truthful we person communicated to homeowners successful that Second Avenue area astir Whitecliff that location would beryllium nary entree for a short play of clip while they do that work, conscionable successful lawsuit location are immoderate effects of nan activity that they’re doing there,” said Paxton.

Borough officials said that erstwhile Third Avenue is cleared, engineers will request to reevaluate and reside structural harm to nan bypass. Paxton said that because of nan magnitude of nan descent and nan activity required to measure its stability, Third Avenue is expected to beryllium closed for an extended period.

In nan meantime, authorities are still asking drivers to limit trips connected Tongass Avenue betwixt First Avenue and Washington Street. They besides petition avoiding Copper Ridge Lane, nan tract of nan secondary slide, truthful cleanup and appraisal efforts tin statesman there.

Paxton said crews are moving to rebuild nan area’s electrical grid. The landslide tore down powerfulness poles and near downed livewires successful its wake. Power has been restored to immoderate areas, but an estimated 60 households successful nan descent area still don’t person electricity. 

The City and Borough are asking evacuees who request to participate their homes to notify nan Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center astatine 907-228-2383 earlier returning to nan area.

The emergency shelter astatine Ketchikan High School remains unfastened and is staffed pinch aesculapian unit and afloat stocked pinch food, bedding, and different necessities. Authorities said location is plentifulness of abstraction available.

The shelter is looking for group who tin thief supply basking meals to provender 25-30 people. If you are capable to thief provender nan families sheltered astatine Kayhi, telephone 907-225-9815.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster for nan landslide area Sunday night. The politician was successful Ketchikan Tuesday gathering pinch section officials. He was besides coming astatine nan processional Tuesday day for nan assemblage of Sean Griffin, nan man who mislaid his life successful nan slide. Griffin was a 17-year seasoned of nan city’s nationalist useful section who was portion of a two-person unit clearing large wind drains successful nan area erstwhile they were caught successful nan slide. 

The governor’s disaster declaration intends group affected by nan landslide whitethorn beryllium eligible for assistance done the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website. The state’s assistance programme provides grants to repair homes, switch basal items, reside aesculapian needs, and supply impermanent housing, among different things. Registration is besides disposable by telephone astatine 844-445-7131. The deadline to use is October 27.

Text alerts are disposable done Nixle by texting 99901 to 888-777.

The Alaska National Guard is being deployed to Ketchikan adjacent week to assistance pinch further cleanup.

School remains canceled for each Ketchikan schools done Wednesday.

Drone footage of nan landslide taken Tuesday. (From Ketchikan Gateway Borough)