Recent Washington Landslides Cause Property Damage to Homes and Businesses
Heavy rains caused a massive landslide early this year that cut off the single exit out of Hoquiam, trapping nearly 200 people in their neighborhood and causing terrible property damage. The slide crashed into Beacon Hill Drive, and officials blocked the road.
The Hoquiam landslide was not an isolated incident; another near Queets Avenue pushed three houses off their foundations. Additional landslides occurred on SR 107, US 12 and US 101.
Over 24 hours, Hoquiam received almost 5.4 inches of heavy rain. Monroe County was flooded by 6.9 inches, and measurements near Issaquah totaled nearly 5 inches.
Rivers continued to rise after the heavy downfall, and flooding damaged several properties. Water quickly saturates soil, loosening it and creating slippery mud. The weight of a tree, boulder or home is enough to cause movement underground, and if there is a downward slope, the momentum will cause a potentially catastrophic landslide.
According to Earth Magazine, Seattle is continually at risk of landslides because of unconsolidated soil, steep slopes and excessive downpours. The danger can linger until the ground dries and becomes solid, which sometimes takes several days.
Residents were urged to evacuate their homes across eight blocks of Queets Avenue. There was immediate danger that the entire bluff could come crashing down, but residents remained positive and worked together to get out within a few days. The Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam became a Red Cross emergency shelter.
Firefighters had to rescue an elderly lady and her dog from a home in Aberdeen. She was trapped inside and had to escape through a hole cut into the roof.
Residents claimed that the situation had not been so dire in at least a decade, and many homes and stores suffered major flood damage. Officials warned motorists to slow their vehicles as the resulting waves were flooding nearby buildings.
On the banks of the Chehalis River, the juvenile detention facility was under threat. A dozen inmates were transported to the Aberdeen county jail.
Floods also threatened the water treatment plant for the Naselle Youth Camp. Evacuation centers sheltered people in the Grays Harbor YMCA, Miller Junior High School and Union Gospel Mission.
Several streets in Downtown Centralia were flooded, mostly along the corridor of Interstate 5. The Weather Service set a flood watch and warned of flooding near all the rivers around Washington.
Power outages affected several counties, and meteorologists warned that the saturated ground could result in dense fogs and further landslides.
The recent weather in Seattle and surrounding areas was a lasting reminder of how much damage floods can cause. If your home or business has suffered flood damage in Seattle, contact Allied Restoration.
Our team uses proven techniques and modern equipment to repair water damage quickly and professionally. For a free quote, call 425-458-5756.