Woo – What a small world. There was a mudslide in our little town and apparently it made the national newswire. We received a number of emails during the course of the day asking if we were ok. The answer – Yes. Same true for Tartok and Ruby over at The Thundering Herd Annex.
What happened? About a mile away from us, a wall of mud began sliding down a mountain side. That wall was tall – 30 feet (9 meters) high. That wall was wide – 175 feet (53 meters). And it slid a very long ways down the mountain – 3000 feet (900 meters). The good thing? It was slow. It took 30 minutes to move that distance which allowed for evacuation and no serious injuries or deaths. Absolutely amazing.
Photo from Asheville Citizen-Times
Between of the amount of snow, ice and rain we have had in the last couple of weeks, the ground simply gave way.
Mud slides like this are very common. While the Maggie Valley slide made news, we also had major slides in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (partially closing US 441 – for a second time), one in Weaverville, and another not far away in South Carolina – all this weekend. And all of this on top of the Interstate 40 rock slide that has had the interstate closed since October. Mother Nature simply likes to remind us that all of this rugged beauty is, well, rugged.
As always, a special thank you to the excellent emergency response crews in our area that worked around the clock to make sure everyone was safe (including digging out 4 canines from the mud – and all 4 are safe and sound). Those crews had to work in ATV’s like these to get around the mountainous terrain:
Photo by Asheville Citizen-Times
But we are safe and sound. We did do a survey of our area and, other than some downed trees from wind and ice, no problems around our house. More snowy scenes back tomorrow from our weekend adventures:
The Herd sniffing out a downed branch - Photo by the Hu-Dad
We are very glad to hear you all are safe
Glad to hear you are all safe and sound, and that no one has been injured in all the weather-related issues going on in your neck of the woods. And I am also happy to see that you even got out for a walk to survey all the damage. You certainly live in an excitingly precarious area. Stay safe and warm!
Suka
Hey Guys
I’m so glad you are safe! 9m is a lot of mud!
Sending lots of love from South Africa…your winter countryside is beauiful despite its dangers. Keep safe.
YOUR FRIENDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Yes, glad you are safe. Now get that herd hooked up to some gear and put that mud back! geeesh…you know the ARE working dogs, right?
wags-n-wiggles,
wild dingo
We are glad everyone is OK – these things can be scary!
We have had a few losses in Scotland with avalanches – the downside of the snow we guess.
Take care
xxx
Wow, that is amazing! We are glad it didn’t impact your family. Looks like the Herd did a thorough job of making sure everything was ok
Yikes! I hadn’t heard about the mud slide – I’m glad that everyone is okay!
Wow! What a close call! I’m glad you’re all okay! Keep an eye on those mountains, I guess!
I’m glad that you’re OK! I’m also very glad that the 4 canines were dug out. My dog and I used to be a SAR team, and I was always bugged by the notion that if *she* (my dedicated dog) were lost, there wouldn’t be any huge response activated.
Enjoy (if you can!) the winter weather and stay safe.
We are also happy to hear you are safe. There have been a number of slides in our area over the past few years. Almost all of them took homes with them. But no people or animals were hurt, thank God. Slides are a scary thing, for sure!
Stay safe and enjoy your snow
Kisses,
Emma Rose and The Duchess
We were khwite relieved to see your reply to our message asking if woo khould hear us now!
Thanks fur sharing the news from your news!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
This is the first I have heard about this and feel most happy to know you and the gang are fine.
About the worst thing that happens here in Minniesnowda is that the roofs of our homes get overloaded with snow and crash in on us. Never us, though, and we hope it so continues!
Cheers and hugs,
Jo and Stella
I’m glad no one was hurt or killed. Scary. Stay safe!
Glad you are safe….how scary! Good thing that slide was so slow too.
Nala
We are so, so, so, so glad you’re OK!!!
Love,
Ammy
We’re glad to read that you are safe. Be careful on your weekend adventures. We’ll look forward to seeing and reading more.
Loveya
Jake and Fergi xxoo
Thank you for posting this for us uninformed furiends. I’m also very glad I read this before hearing of the mudslide myself. And I thought we were going to get mudslides here (California, Station Fire burn area). We’re fine too, btw (a lot of structural damage to our home) but no actual flooding. Phew, we’re all safe!
Twink!
Wow, what a mess. So glad to hear all are safe.
Glad everyone is okay and the mud moved in “Bullet Time” — are you sure you aren’t living in The Matrix? Stay safe!
I’m glad to hear everydog and hudad is safe!
We are very glad to read that you are all safe.
take care
Clive and the NSLM
That is scary, we are so glad you guys are all okay.
We hope you are having a great Sunday!
So glad you are safe! Sounds scary.
OMDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!
That’s sooo scary!!!!!
We’re soooooooooooo happy you’re safe!!!!!
Take care of you guys!!!
We need you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sweet kisses and licks
Meant to tell you guys we love the new header and layout! We saw it a while back, but didn’t have time to post. If it’s not the one I liked best, it sure is close. I think all of the pics were awesome. Love the area photos too! Can’t wait to get back to NC, I love it there!
Whew! I would hate for anything to happen to the Herd compound (or Annex)!
Kat
Glad to hear you are all OK. Hope that is the end of the slides for a good long time.
Woos, Phantom and Thunder
We are so glad that ya’ll are ok!!! Stay Safe!!!
Licks & Nibbles,
Kody & Nia:-)
I’m so glad you are all safe!
Mochi
I had a rare weekend away from the news and had no idea – but wow is that too close for comfort! Glad all is safe in your world…
We are so glad you all are safe, and that no one was injured in the mud slide. Very scary!
That was awfully close! Glad to hear you are all safe and that no one was hurt!