State of Emergency Declared for Maggie Valley Landslide; Shelter Closes

THE LATEST ON THE MAGGIE VALLEY LANDSLIDE: SUNDAY

A State of Emergency has been declared in Haywood County because of Friday's massive Maggie Valley landslide. County Emergency Management is in contact with State and Federal Emergency Management to pursue options for a State and Federal State of Emergency.

The Red Cross Shelter operating at the Maggie Valley United Methodist Church will close today for overnight use. However, lunch and dinner will be available at the church for residents impacted by the slide. No one stayed in the shelter last night.

A National Guard helicopter flyover will occur early this afternoon to gather additional information on any potential health and safety issues related to the mudslide. Local law enforcement agencies and area fire fighters assisted 23 residents in returning to their homes after 5 p.m. Saturday to retrieve necessary items. Emergency officials have recommended that no residents living above the 600 block of Rich Cove Road return to their homes to stay, but are not prohibiting them from doing so. None of the residents stayed in their homes Saturday night.

At least three sections of Rich Cove Road and a section of Landing Dr. have either been damaged by the slide or are covered with debris. Due to weather predictions for the next few days that could cause safety issues, it is not known when work crews will begin debris removal.

SATURDAY UPDATE:

Officials in Maggie Valley told News Channel 7 Saturday that a combination of snow and heavy rain may have triggered the massive landslide on Rich Cove Road Friday night. The threat of another landslide is also a possibility, especially if more rain comes to the area. Rain is in the forecast for Monday night and Tuesday.

At a Saturday afternoon press conference, officials said they are investigating a collapsed retaining wall at nearby Ghost Town, and trying to determine if that may have had anything to do with the landslide. Ghost Town is located on top of the mountain. Residents living above the 600 block of Rich Cove Road are not being allowed back home, and those living below the 600 block are being asked to be packed and ready to evacuate in case of more landslides.

One survivor that talked to News Channel 7's Elizabeth Owens Saturday described what happened. "I heard a noise that sounded like an airplane", Tammy Jones remembers. "The house begins to rumble, I got down on my knees and as it came by the house you could just hear the water and mud hitting the side of the house splattering really loud on the windows."

More than 40 people were evacuated from their homes Friday, with 8 people staying at a nearby shelter which remains open today. Others stayed with family, friends, or at area hotels. Officials have no idea when residents will be able to return to their homes near the landslide. The timing will depend on the findings of the geological assessment and continued weather issues that may develop.

The slide traveled 3000 feet, and was close to 30 feet in height. It last for half an hour. No serious injuries have been reported, and all roads that run off Rich Cover Road are inaccessible.

News Channel 7 was the first Upstate station on the scene Friday evening, and today our crew was taken to the landslide area. Click the video link to watch the latest report.

Emergency Management will update residents everyday. The meetings will take place everyday at 5:30pm Maggie Valley United Methodist Church.