Residents Near Rattlesnake Ridge Still On High Alert Of Possible Landslide
Listen
BY ROB WOOD, KUOW
People in the Yakima Valley near Union Gap are considering their next move if a slow-moving hillside collapses during the next several weeks.
University of Washington geology professor David Montgomery is among those following developments at Rattlesnake Ridge. He’s been looking at the best and worse-case scenarios for the area.
“The best case scenario would be if the area that’s moving at present simply continues in the direction its going. it’s moving down towards the quarry,” Montgomery said. “The worst case scenario is if a larger piece of the terrain gets engaged and it shifts and moves more toward the west. That would have a higher likelihood of impacting the highway. And if it’s large enough and traveled far enough, conceivably damming the river.”
Huge cracks have been developing at the top of the ridge, but it’s not clear how far they might extend if a slide happens. So far, about 80-percent of people living below the ridge have evacuated as precaution.
Montgomery urges those who remain to do the same.
Copyright 2017 KUOW
Related Stories:
Still Sliding, Just Not So Fast: What’s Up With The Rattlesnake Ridge Landslide One Year Later
At this time last year, authorities in Central Washington were on high alert because of the slow-moving Rattlesnake Ridge landslide near Yakima. A year later, what’s changed? The landslide isn’t quite over – yet. But it has slowed down significantly.
Yakima County Closes Road Near Rattlesnake Ridge Indefinitely
Yakima County Commissioners voted this week to officially close a road at the base of the slow-moving Rattlesnake Ridge landslide in Union Gap.
For Displaced Rattlesnake Ridge Residents, Emergency Goes On As They’re Told To Return Home
The emergency is over for now at Rattlesnake Ridge near Yakima. The state says a major, sudden landslide is no longer imminent, and Yakima County has lifted its evacuation order and told residents they can move back home. But that’s easier said than done.
