Notes from the Landslide

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Miller said water coming down the hillside remains a high concern
for crews on-site.
“The ground is super-saturated with water, still. Although it is
drying out now, it’s still real wet,” Miller said.
Officials said the mud slurry left by the slide has dried out in
the 24 hours since the slide. More than 2.5 inches of rain fell in
the 24 hours before the slide, but less than a tenth of an inch of
rain was recorded the rest of the day, Sitka Flight Service Station
said.
Miller said the water is draining away better than expected.
Earlier in the day crews were concerned about the hazard posed
by water.
“Draining water is really going pretty good naturally,” Miller
said. “The mud that was there was soupy yesterday, today it’s
drying out. It’s cracking like pudding left out.”
Miller estimated that approximately 25 homes have been evacuated
as a precaution below the slide area. Most of those homes
are in the Sand Dollar Drive neighborhood. City officials are
permitting residents to return to their homes briefly to collect
whatever possessions they need, but the area is expected to
remain unoccupied until more is known about the slide area.
Ariel Starbuck, who lives about a half-mile from the slide area
at 2168 HPR, said she and the rest of her family are anxious to