Threat of Landslides Discussed

After listening to city officials answer questions from Avenue area residents whose homes are threatened by continued mudslides, Tammy Aragon knew what she must do.

“I’m moving,” she told a friend as she abruptly left the meeting, which attracted more than 100 people.

The crowd heard authorities say that there is no way of knowing when portions of the cliff that looms behind scores of houses and apartment buildings could fall again. A wall of mud as tall as a 20-story structure destroyed an evacuated 12-unit apartment building Feb. 23.

So far, 39 apartment units and houses have been red-tagged along Cedar Street and Cedar Place as unsafe to occupy. Another 20 single-family homes and three apartment complexes are also in danger and have received cautionary yellow tags.

“The hillside is inherently unstable,” said Fire Chief Dennis Downs. “There’s no way of predicting how much water can trigger a slide.”

With more rain expected later this week, pronouncements such as that were enough for Aragon.

“I’m not going to run out later, I’m going to move out now,” she said of her yellow-tagged apartment. “I don’t trust it.”

However, a geologist hired by the city told residents that so far he has seen no sign of a larger slide threat.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross--which has spent about $100,000 helping area residents so far--encouraged people to apply for aid.