Ocean View/Lutak Road Slope Movement, January 23 Update

I have been spending time reviewing the State of Alaska emergency preparedness websites. My favorite site is Ready Alaska. But one of the most important element of preparedness is communication. In fact, communication cannot be stressed enough. So I am delighted to announce that the Command Center for the Ocean View/Lutak Road Slope Movement today installed a phone line that has a recording of the daily update: 766-2256. Try it. You can also leave a message at this number with any information that could help the planning effort and help keep officials informed.

Today's update reads:

A core drilling contractor arrived in Haines over the week-end and will begin drilling a series of bore holes in and around the slide area as soon as their equipment is ready to go. PND engineers, scheduled to arrive this afternoon, plan to install accurate measuring instructments that will help track daily movement.

Recent testing conducted by the Haines Borough Water & Sewer Department show there are no water or sere damages to report, and there is no major damage to the State Highway (Lutak Road) to change previous advice to drive slow through the slide area. Please be aware of the hump at the lower end of the slide that is near the intersection to Front Street from Lutak Road. There is also a dip at the upper end near the intersection of Lutak Road and 1st Ave. North/Ocean View Drive.

I had to pick up a visitor from the ferry today and I can certainly affirm that the bump and the dip are perceptible. The snow eclipses the change in the road bed so drive slowly through the area.