Update below (as of 2:48 p.m.)
I just got a call from my son who drives a big rig for Del Recca Beverages in Eureka. He was on his way down to Southern Humboldt to make deliveries when a mountain slide happened right before his eyes! A tree fell first, but then more of the mountain collapsed (he called us on his cell at 9:21 a.m. after calling the CHP first) and within minutes the road was impassable. (CHP reports say the slide happened at 9:22 a.m.)
My son, Nate, was able to stop his truck in plenty of time. He’s the first in what is rapidly becoming a long line of vehicles that are stuck! The slide happened just north of Redway. Nate reported that the road is splitting open (Go to KMUD link provided below for photos) and the earth is still moving. He’s pretty uncomfortable being stuck right now, but is perfectly safe.
The question now is “How are all those vehicles – on both sides of the slide – going to turn around? stay tuned, as Nate gives me updates. Right now, he said there’s lots of CHP on the scene.
First reports are saying the slide happened a quarter mile north of the Dean Creek exit. 12-15 feet deep. via Redheaded Blackbelt Go here for more updates and photos.
More info on KMUD website:
UPDATE From CalTrans update
ROUTE 101 CLOSED NORTH OF GARBERVILLE DUE TO MUDSLIDE
Eureka – Caltrans has announced that Route 101 in Southern Humboldt County
is closed due to a large mudslide approximately one mile north of Dean
Creek. Caltrans crews are currently onsite and assessing the situation.
No estimated time of opening is currently available. Caltrans will issue
another update by 2:00 PM today.
Motorists are advised to use an alternate route. For the most current road
information on all State highways, please call 1-800-427-7623
(1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/.
DOT HAS HARD CLOSURE SB 101 / DIVERTING AT SDALE
PER CO RDS DYERVILLE & ALDPT RDS CANT HANDLE LG RIGS, INCLUDING SCHOOL BUSES
1039 SCHOOL DIST
1039 CO RDS, THEY HAVE SOME WORKERS ENRT TO ATT TO PLOW
2:48 p.m. update:
Nate was able to turn his truck around and go back to the distribution plant in Eureka. He called to let his mother and I know everything was okay. He also told us this, “I forgot my clipboard this morning and had to turn around (after just going a block) and went back to get it. That’s never happened before. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!”
Me too.