Gov. Gregoire Getting First Hand Look At Landslide

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By Sade Malloy

Summary

It's been a week since we first brought you the images of that landslide on Highway 410. Images now brought to life for Gov. Christine Gregoire as she examines the scene from the air.

Story Published: Oct 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM PST

NEAR NACHES -- It's been a week since we first brought you the images of that landslide on Highway 410. Images now brought to life for Gov. Christine Gregoire as she examines the scene from the air.

It's a bird's eye view on the landslide that's closed Highway 410. Saturday Gov. Gregoire spent the day getting a first hand look at the mess.

"It happened prehistorically don't know why that happened then or why it is now, but we do know that we're vulnerable in some areas," says Gov. Gregoire.

Geologists say we might never know the reason for the landslide. Saturday's aerial view did put an end to one theory for Gov. Gregoire, she says she does not believe a nearby mining site is the cause.

While most of the day was spent getting updates on the clean-up from state and local officials a big part of the Governor's day was talking about the temporary road and the fact that they've got 30 days to build a new permanent one before the winter weather sets in.

The Department of Transportation says there is one slight delay, part of the land they need for the new road runs in between five properties. Land they have to get permission to dig.

"Talking to the people on the ground here they're telling me that the dike they're making is going to break and the river is going to flow through and take away my house," says evacuee, Kerrick Ward.

For evacuated Nile Valley homeowners like Ward the only thing he wants
to take away from the governor's visit is some direction on what to do with his house and insurance.

"I'm gonna ask the insurance commissioner to reach out to everyone of these people and see to it they get what they deserve," says Gov. Gregoire.

Cleaning up from the ground up and doing it as quickly as possible. It's what displaced homeowners and the community want. But the snow is pushing the start date for construction on a new highway to the spring, at the earliest.