Officials Worried About More Rain After Mudslide Damages Maggie Valley Homes

By: Staff Reports | WSPA-TV
Published: February 08, 2010

****Updated 12 p.m. Monday, February 8****

MAGGIE VALLEY, NC - Residents are being told to stay away for weeks after a landslide in Maggie Valley destroys several homes and forces dozens to evacuate. In the video from Air 7 you can see parts of the mountainside gone and mud everywhere. Haywood County officials say it looks like the slide destroyed several retaining walls on the "Ghost Town" property then took out a section of Rich Cove Road. In a news conference this afternoon, officials said they are worried about more rain coming. The mudslide is 3,000 ft. long, 175 ft. wide in some places. There are still about 12,000 to 16,000 tons of unstable ground that officials are concerned about. More rain could mean that comes sliding down. Experts are looking at maps to try to figure out more information.

****Updated 5:46 a.m. Monday, February 8****

MAGGIE VALLEY, NC - Haywood County officials are concerned about the remnants of Friday night's mudslide that made dozens of residents leave their homes in Maggie Valley.

Officials say that based on continued examinations at the site, geologists with the North Carolina Geological Survey confirmed Sunday that the area surrounding the slide remains very untable, but there were no indications of additional activity. The early indications suggest that the slide destroyd several retaining walls on property owned by Ghost Town and then proceeded to cover a section of Rich Cover Road, as well as Landing Drive, a privately owned property.

The mudslide isolated 12 homes that are occupied by year-round residents, while remaining homes affected are seasonal homes. Haywood County officials say they are working with Ghost Town and also North Carolina Department of Transportation officials to determine the best way to clean-up the debris.

Representaives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency are expected to be in Haywood County Monday to tour the site and gather preliminary information. Emergency officials say they are monitoring weather forecasts for the area. Rain is likely on Tuesday. Extra moisture could cause further problems on the mountain.