Landslide In Washington Ongoing efforts to find survivors

reply to post by SCGrits


THANKYOU for that post! I have been wanting to know since the first moment I saw this event if the EQs had anything to do with the landslide.

reply to post by antar


I live in Washington State. I am just giving information to counter misinformation. I live with the prospect of Mt St Helens blowing again or Yellowstone. Does not mean I will even think about living somewhere else.

So just a few quick points I would like to make:

I too immediately wondered about a quake factor in all of this. I know that some nearby areas have been having regular swarms. However, after asking a couple of questions of our local PNSN director and following some back and forth stuff for a few days, their stance so far is that they DO NOT think this was triggered by a quake.

What IS fact, however, is that this was a KNOWN slide risk and there had been several studies done saying so. I think one of the reasons you don't see many trees (I don't know this for sure, it's speculation) in the before pics is because there was a decent slide there before in 2006. It was KNOWN that a bigger one could happen at anytime. A local I talked with a couple of days ago stated that he always sped when driving through that stretch because it scared him. It was like shooting a gauntlet.

As to some of the comments about the initial rescue efforts and how it has been handled. Okay, so I am former EMT and volunteer FF for my community, and I still talk with people who are active, and I also have read several first-hand accounts from people on FB. It is all, as you can expect, very chaotic, emotional and confusing. I praise every single one of the people on the ground that have been a part of this effort. I was very to quick to defend the rescue response, because...well, that is just what I do. However...I am holding back on any final comments at this time. I have heard some disturbing things, but I was not there so I do not know what really happened, so I am not going to repeat it. I really hope that it was just the intense, emotional situation that made it hard for people to understand what and why things were or were not being done.

Moving on to the media. I am still SO confused on this. Us locals knew within hours (those that were seeking it) that this was a MASSIVE disaster with multiple victims still trapped and needing help. That there were dozens of homes and vehicles from 530 involved and that the river was damaged with a potential critical flood situation. WHY then, did it take the news channels almost three days to even START reporting it clearly and almost FOUR days for the government to step in and lend aid. DO you know how many military bases there are within an hour or two of that location? People were screaming for help for almost two days!!! I just don't get it. I don't know if it was because of a lack of a proper communication with the correct channels. But ou would think, that if the media were allowed close enough to the scene or even spoke to ONE resident of OSO or Darrington, that they would have grasped the magnitude of it.

This is still an evolving situation. The scope of this was way beyond the capacity for any local rescue agency to handle working on their own.

Again, I want to praise the effort of EVERYONE in the rescue effort, they all need our thoughts and prayers.

I live in northern Snohomish County about 40 minutes from the slide (it's about 10 miles NE of me as the crow flies). I am about 1,200 feet from the Stillaguamish River. This property backs right up to it.

This is my first post on the subject because I have been doing what I could to help. Two close friends are missing and likely dead. Late yesterday, I came to the conclusion there was no help that I could give that would make any difference and the situation is beyond dangerous in the slide zone.

It is much worse than the national media is reporting. Entire families have been obliterated -- literally pulverized. Many many bodies will never be found. It's an impossible situation. So many little kids...

Local media (as of today) claims 176 are missing. If that number holds up, they are all dead.

This will be my last post here for the night. I need to catch my breath...

There are very few positives that will come out of this, but this helicopter rescue of a 4 y/o boy is one.

Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team 23 March 2014

SBMcG
I live in northern Snohomish County about 40 minutes from the slide (it's about 10 miles NE of me as the crow flies). I am about 1,200 feet from the Stillaguamish River. This property backs right up to it.

This is my first post on the subject because I have been doing what I could to help. Two close friends are missing and likely dead. Late yesterday, I came to the conclusion there was no help that I could give that would make any difference and the situation is beyond dangerous in the slide zone.

It is much worse than the national media is reporting. Entire families have been obliterated -- literally pulverized. Many many bodies will never be found. It's an impossible situation. So many little kids...

Local media (as of today) claims 176 are missing. If that number holds up, they are all dead.

This will be my last post here for the night. I need to catch my breath...

There are very few positives that will come out of this, but this helicopter rescue of a 4 y/o boy is one.

Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team 23 March 2014

Catch your breath and take an evening for yourself. You have done good. Thank you.

I've heard some updated news that lowered the missing number to 90. I'm not sure why command hasn't released a list of the missing. After the Joplin tornado there were thousands of us on an official missing list. But, that number came down very quickly due to the names being released to the public. A friend placed me on the list because I just didn't think of contacting her when I finally had the ability (My cell phone was lost and needed to be replaced.) I was was informed that I was "missing" when I made it to my credit union. They placed a call for me so that I could identify myself and get my named removed from the list. I cannot help but think that if the names of the missing persons were made public (rather than just the media sharing anecdotal stories) folks would be calling in and getting the list shortened.

We in southern Snoco are thinking about you. Please remember to take care of yourself.

reply to post by SBMcG


Words fail me. If you could feel the ache in my heart you would know why. Your comments and thoughts in writing are appreciated more than you can imagine. Not many people posting but you can count on the readers in silent prayer and support of you and your entire community, State and most importantly your loved ones and friends.

Your post was humbling.

Thank you.

reply to post by westcoast


I am with you on that westcoast. Seems like the compartmentalization and new guidelines forget to see the human's as humans. Not sure what you read but it hit you hard that is for certain. One thing I was thinking today was about the helicopters and the noise drowning out the immediate cries for help, that had to be a factor. With everything we know about major disaster preparedness, search and rescue, we are going to have to come up with some answers fast. All of the experts agree that California/Oregon/Washington/Alaska are not going to dodge the bullet forever. As I proposed earlier a heavy tripod system with guy lines on either shore could have been brought in asap and used to help those who could make it to the surface at least. To be tumbling down the slide inside a home must have been something that even God is having trouble with. Just stay in support of your comrades and know that everyone has learned from this experience, it will not be the last. Please keep us posted and u2u me with details if you think it is too much for the general forum, I want to know.

State allowed logging on plateau above slope

In recent decades the state allowed logging — with restrictions — on the plateau above the Snohomish County hillside that collapsed in last weekend’s deadly mudslide.

The plateau above the soggy hillside that gave way Saturday has been logged for almost a century, with hundreds of acres of softwoods cut and hauled away, according to state records.

But in recent decades, as the slope has become more unstable, scientists have increasingly challenged the timber harvests, with some even warning of possible calamity.

The state has continued to allow logging on the plateau, although it has imposed restrictions at least twice since the 1980s. The remnant of one clear-cut operation is visible in aerial photographs of Saturday’s monstrous mudslide. A triangle — 7½ acres, the shape of a pie slice — can be seen atop the destruction, its tip just cutting into where the hill collapsed.

seattletimes.com...

Rescue Efforts Were Delayed Following Deadly Landslide in Washington
Volunteer rescue workers on site say authorities botched the initial response to save lives. Meanwhile, new reports highlight human responsibility for this natural disaster.

Rescue workers told to stand down, and the big question is :

“How come most of the people who’ve been found were found by people who weren’t supposed to be there?”

www.thedailybeast.com...

I am still troubled by this terrible disaster, for all of the people who have been involved whether through the loss of family and friends, to the survivors and the first responders and crews including the canine units, to the citizens who still live in peril from the coming rains and the possibility of the debris field dislodging. How big does an event have to be to garner more than a 48 hour blurb before its onto the next item on the msm keeping heads bobbing back and forth? How many homes destroyed and how many deaths must occur before people stop acting so desensitized by this tragic ONGOING disaster? I truly hate the feeling I get when I think about the mega disasters on their way from manmade to natural. They are coming and not a single person is going to be able to ignore it. Are people being trained to move along provided it does not affect them directly? I think so.

antar

Rescue Efforts Were Delayed Following Deadly Landslide in Washington
Volunteer rescue workers on site say authorities botched the initial response to save lives. Meanwhile, new reports highlight human responsibility for this natural disaster.

Rescue workers told to stand down, and the big question is :

“How come most of the people who’ve been found were found by people who weren’t supposed to be there?”

www.thedailybeast.com...

Yes...

second line.

reply to post by westcoast


Thank you for reporting additional information on this. This is just heartbreaking.

Seeing the pictures of the people affected suddenly make it "real" to those that aren't anywhere near the site. Tragic.

I just want to say again, that I truly believe that everyone one scene has done what they can to the best of their ability. I'm sure the response wasn't perfect. How could it be? But think about it: Those first responders? They were from that community. They were trying to help their own families and friends. Of Course they did everything they possibly could. I just don't want to see people questioning them right now. I am sure there will be plenty of review later on so that people can learn and grow as responders, but I don't think anyone should be saying right now that they have done anything wrong, or that their intent was anything other than to save their friends and family any way possible.

They found the 4 mos old baby this afternoon. At least her mom and family that survived that now put her to rest.

The fire chief has STILL not given up hope. He also hasn't left the scene since first getting there. I think that says it all.

Please continue to pray for everyone involved.

reply to post by westcoast


I agree that now is not the time to dissect the response, or any failures to warn of the danger.

A few days ago I had found an interesting (geologically speaking) graphic using LIDAR, that showed the slumping in the slide area. I started to post it, and then I thought, "you know Oli, they haven't even found all of those poor folks, let alone buried their loved ones--this can wait".

The responders are showing such strength carrying on, day after day.

This is all so terribly sad. The situation there sounds horrific. My thoughts are with you all. I am sending a heart filled with love, calm and peace. Please accept this hug. It is all I can do from so far away.

Death toll rises

some info in the above link. They have included a slide show of the reality of how bad it is.

This is heartwarming... they pulled a families dog from the rubble and mud:
news link


sniffer dogs on the ground searching for the missing People:

Continuing prayers for all involved.

Heartwarming backstory of the helicopter crew that rescued the 4 yo boy Source

After rescuing the women, they spotted a small child standing amidst the muck all by himself. Nearby, two men tried to to make their way to him, sinking in the neck deep mud.

Remembering those lost

the people who have been confirmed dead or missing, either by official sources or through family members

“In the last three days, the most effective tool has been dogs and just our bare hands ....."

Source
Hardworking puppydogs and their handlers

reply to post by SCGrits


Thank you for your post, I was just almost dead inside after reading all of the obits on the link. So many just tragic losses.

reply to post by westcoast


Yes. And I think of how people have been found in deep ocean pockets still alive, ship wrecks you know, I hold out hope for more survivors and I am praying for all of them daily. The rains are coming in again and that is concerning, is the area still evacuated? Are there still risks from the debris fields if they begin to roll or is it like cement at this point? I dont know but will be sick at heart always over this.