Haines officials tell more residents to be ready to evacuate amid deteriorating weather

HAINES — More Haines residents were warned about potential evacuations over the weekend as weather conditions deteriorated and the risk of additional landslides remained high.

Late Saturday, the Haines Borough government cautioned roughly a third of the population of this Southeast Alaska town to pack bags and be prepared to leave home at a moment’s notice.

“It is advised that you be on alert for a potential evacuation. Pack essential belongings and bedding and be prepared to evacuate quickly,” local officials said, also urging residents to “keep aware of any steep terrain above you and be vigilant for any changes during this ongoing weather event.”

That “preparedness notice” remained in effect Sunday, according to the Haines Emergency Operations Center.

Haines has been on alert since Wednesday, when dozens of landslides were triggered by record-breaking rainfall. Two people — 23-year-old kindergarten teacher Jenae Larson and 30-year-old business leader David Simmons — remain missing after the largest slide near Beach Road, and search efforts have been complicated by continued bad weather and limited daylight.

The Beach Road search and rescue effort along with attempts to assess geohazards by air and on ground were among officials’ highest priorities Sunday, according to an update from the Emergency Operations Center.

On Saturday afternoon, nearly 6 inches of snow fell at sea level, with more at higher elevations. The snow turned to freezing rain after midnight, leaving the new snow covered with a crunchy glaze. State crews worked Sunday to clear snow and improve road conditions.

Interim borough manager Alekka Fullerton said late Saturday that the weather conditions were similar to, though less severe than, the conditions that caused landslides earlier in the week.

An inch and a half of rain was expected by Monday morning, and higher temperatures were expected to melt the new snowpack. The combined runoff could further erode hillsides and cause additional avalanches.

Hotels and motels were full in Haines. At least 50 households were ordered to evacuate, with hundreds of homes damaged, and many evacuees do not yet know when it’ll be safe for them to return home as landslide danger persists.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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