Alaska Miners Play Key Role in Landslide Response
Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO Volunteers carry heavy, wet carpet out of a home damaged by flooding as another dumps gravel on the ice in front of them to help with traction Dec. 5 in Haines.
“The mining industry has showed how important they are to our com- munities. When stuff like this hap - pens, you guys have the knowledge and expertise and are willing to share it. “Thank you for all your support and all you do.” Today the community is in re- covery and rebuilding mode. And in watchful caution for the potential of more slides. There are multiple steep slopes surrounding the community with characteristics similar to that which collapsed in the Dec. 2 slide. The families who lost their homes and belongings are still limited in ac- cess to the slide area. A number of homes were a total loss and others sustained major damage. Beyond the Beach Road slide area, many parts of the community sus- tained smaller debris flows and land - slides and flood damaged and are also rebuilding. To provide help, see the links elsewhere in this story.
HAINES, CONTINUED from PAGE 28
Warning signs for possible slides n Increasing flow becoming more brown/dirty n Water flow from surface of slopes n Sound of water running underground n Increased groundwater pressure (suddenly artesian wells) n Cracks on the slope, es- pecially if fresh-looking or getting larger n Ground movement of any kind n Trees tipped or fallen over n Newly exposed rock or dirt on slopes
support by AMA members and by the mining community as well as the ac- tive mining professionals who were on break here on their time off and were helping on the ground. “We’re just very thankful for the mining industry here in Haines.” Haines mayor Doug Olerud had only recently been elected and this emergency came on one of his first days on the job. With a very small Borough staff including some open positions, the volunteer support was especially critical, he said. “Haines is extremely grateful for all of you for helping us through this,” he told AMA members in December. “And personally, Haines as a whole is very thankful to Liz for the key role she’s played in this. She’s been able to take very technical information and explain it to all of us. Her work has been extremely beneficial to us.”
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The Alaska Miner
Winter 2021
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