The discovery was reported to the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at about 12:40 p.m. today, said spokesman Jeremy Zidek.
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“All of a sudden, I heard crackling and crumbling, and then the lights flickered”, he told the Daily Sitka Sentinel. The sunny skies were welcome, as officials said the rainy and wet weather hampered search efforts up until Thursday morning.
Longtime Sitka resident Nolan Simpson said he toured parts of town and saw one home where the driveway was gone, replaced by a stream washing through it. He passed the Indian River and said it was roaring.
David Longtin was one of three city employees inspecting storm drains at a new house on Kramer Avenue in Sitka on Tuesday morning when the hillside gave way.
One unidentified body was found Wednesday evening in or near a home that was under construction.
Six landslides were reported after 2 1/2 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period.
All three people were presumed dead, Alaska State Troopers said in a statement. A low-cloud cover prevented an aerial view on Wednesday, so a geologist hiked to the top of the slide area.
Governor Walker also met with local officials to determine how the state could best assist the community in its relief efforts.
After a meeting with volunteers in a nearby church, Sitka Police Department officer Gary Crawford was approached by tearful family members wanting to believe the men might still be alive.
Resident Ramon Hernandez said he and the Diaz brothers are partners in a painting and drywall contracting business.
“He has asked that they meet as soon as possible to expedite the process”, spokeswoman Katie Marquette said. “I think it’s fair for me to have a phone call with good news now”.
Stortz, Longtin and a third co-worker knew they had to run.
“He was a very smart man and he loved his job, he loved going out and watching things in operation”, Longtin said describing his friend and his co-worker.
Peterson says a search has not yet started because of the instability of the site. National Weather Service incident meteorologist Joel Curtis (center), and incident commander Al Stevens (right), were preparing for more rain on Friday. So far the names of the bodies recovered have not been released.
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“The seadog was a cadaver dog and it was able to locate the person rather quickly upon arrival in Sitka.” said Stevens.
