HOQUIAM, Wash. — When the hillside gave way, it blocked the only-paved road up Beacon Hill -- forcing residents to use a narrow, winding gravel-logging road to get down into town and back home again.
“Oh it makes it difficult getting in and out,” said Beacon Hill resident Chuck Kloempken. “But it could be worse.”
Crews are working to remove the slide and repair damaged sections of the road. It’s estimated that work will take two weeks to complete.
On Tuesday, Hoquiam city officials announced that two homes on Beacon Hill had been condemned because they were too close to the slide area, and too dangerous to occupy.
Below the hill, on Queets Avenue, the three homes pushed off their foundations by Monday’s slide have been also been condemned and tagged for demolition.
In all, four homes in Hoquiam were destroyed by sliding mud and debris during the record rainstorm that hit Grays Harbor County on Sunday and Monday.
Travis Cartmill drove from Montesano to see the damage for himself.
“It’s sad -- just the devastation. People live here,” said Cartmill. “You can’t describe it. You can’t put it into words.”
Melanie Bridges, who lives across the street from one of the homes, said she was lucky that her house was unscathed.
Now, she wants to help her neighbors working to recover.
“Who needs clothes? What do your kids need?” said Bridges. “How can we help?”
KIRO
