MUDSLIDE IN WASHINGTON STATE, USA

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014

LOCATION MAP

LOCATION MAP

LOCATION MAP

LOCATION MAP

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WASHINGTON STATE

THIS SITE AND THE MUDSLIDE WERE NOT

SURPRISES

PRIOR PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES

• In 2006 after a smaller landslide occurred on the north fork of the Stillaguamish River, millions of dollars were spent on regional mitigation measures.

PRIOR PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES

• In 2010, a report commissioned by the county in order to be in compliance with federal regulations identified the hillside that collapsed Saturday outside of the community of Oso as particularly susceptible.

THE 2014 MUDSLIDE

• Officials described the mudslide as "a big wall of mud and debris” that blocked about a mile of State Route 530 near the town of Oso, about 55 miles north of Seattle.

THE 2014 MUDSLIDE

• The slide, which occurred on Saturday morning, was triggered by heavy rainfall and reported to be about 25 m (80 feet) deep in some parts.

WALL OF MUD MOVED AFTER HEAVY RAINFALL

THE MUDSLIDE

THE MUDSLIDE

The 15 million cubic feet mudslide destroyed about

50 homes

DESTROYED HOME

PREPARING FOR S AND R

SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS HALTED FOR MOST OF SATURDAY BECAUSE THE SITE WAS UNSTABLE

FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY RESCUED ON SATURDAY

THE DILEMNA FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS

• The debris pile is about a square mile (2 1/2 square kilometers) and 30 to 80 feet (9 to 25 meters) deep in places, with a surface that includes quicksand-like muck, rain-slickened mud, and ice.

• The terrain is difficult to navigate on foot and very treacherous when heavy equipment is brought in.

S AND R: SLOW, DANGEROUS WORK WITH FEW SUCCESSES

S AND R: SLOW, DANGEROUS WORK

HOPING FOR A FEW MORE MIRACLE RESCUES

AN ALL OUT EFFORT

• A total of 156 workers were taking part in search and recovery efforts on Tuesday and 50 National Guard members were expected to join later in the day..

THE SEARCH INTENSIFIES

Specialized teams and high-tech equipment — including

technology to locate cellphone pings under the

wreckage — were being deployed on Tuesday

AN ALL OUT EFFORT

• With search and cadaver dogs leading the way, rescuers used small bulldozers and their bare hands to push through sludge strewn with splintered homes and twisted cars to find 10 more bodies in the debris of the mudslide.

SLOW DANGEROUS WORK

--- AS CONTINUING RAINFALL INCREASED THE RISK TO THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS

FROM POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODS AND ADDITIONAL

MUDSLIDES

THE DILEMNA FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS

• To make matters worse, the debris pile includes other hazards such as fallen trees, propane and septic tanks, twisted vehicles, and countless pieces of shattered homes

SLOW DANGEROUS WORK

Snohomish County Fire Chief Travis Hots hailed the rescue crews Thursday as “unsung heroes,” noting their tireless efforts to continue searching

for bodies.

Due to the dangerous environment, as bodies are being discovered underneath the rubble, they are being flown out together in groups each afternoon instead

of one at a time in helicopters.

Some survivors began to grow impatient Wednesday when they weren't allowed to return to the sites of their

homes to search for their valuables and memorabilia..

176 MISSING14 DEAD

AS OF TUESDAY, MARCH 25

AT LEAST 100 MISSING24 DEAD

AS OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

AT LEAST 90 MISSING AND 25 DEAD, BUT THE DEATH

TOLL IS NOW EXPECTED TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY

AS OF THURSDAY, MARCH 27

AS TIME PASSES, IT IS BECOMING PAINFULLY

CLEAR THAT SOME BODIES WILL NEVER BE

RECOVERED