Juneau, Alaska (KINY) – There was a secondary landslide in Ketchikan. In a social media post, the police department asked residents to avoid the area of Copper Ridge Road near the secondary landslide for the remainder of the evening yesterday so that geological assessors can evaluate the area.
The FAA has extended a temporary 24-hour flight restriction over the area of the Third Avenue Landslide. The extension is expected to be in effect for at least one more week.
The restriction will allow safety and clearance for the state geologists, Forest Service, and State DOT drone operators to continue their site assessment and surveys. The restriction affects helicopters, float planes, private planes and private drones and covers elevations up to 5,000 feet. Alaska Airlines will be permitted to operate as will float planes and tours from outside the slide zone. The situation will be re-evaluated on September 3rd.
Ketchikan Schools will remain closed through at least today, as officials respond to the disaster, and Ketchikan High School continues as a shelter site providing emergency services.
Tonight the Ketchikan emergency operations center will live-stream a panel discussion with state weather and geological experts to provide landslide awareness, response and prevention information at 6pm. The link is available on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Facebook page.
