Major mudslide evacuates nine on Goat Hill in Juanita neighborhood; roads remain closed

As roads in the Totem Lake neighborhood remained closed Monday after the weekend downpour, mudslides caused at least nine families to evacuate their homes on Goat Hill.

By Carrie Rodriguez • December 13, 2010 7:14 pm
The rain storm that hit the Puget Sound area Sunday caused a mudslide on Goat Hill in Juanita
The rain storm that hit the Puget Sound area Sunday caused a mudslide on Goat Hill in Juanita

As the weekend downpour kept several roads in the Totem Lake neighborhood closed Monday, mudslides caused at least nine families to evacuate their homes on Goat Hill.

A King County Department of Transportation (DOT) crew responded to a significant mudslide on Goat Hill in the Juanita neighborhood at 2 p.m. Monday.

A huge home loomed on the hill above the mudslide where workers set up barriers – including cement blocks and plastic covering – to prevent further erosion.

“It looks like there was a drainage issue around the foundation and the hill came down,” said Jeff Dorfler, DOT equipment operator.

He said his crew removed 60 yards of mudslide material from the roadway, at the intersection of N.E. 117th Place and 90th Ave. N.E.

The Kirkland Fire Department deemed the home and eight other nearby homes unsafe.

Residents were instructed to stay elsewhere until officials determine the hill is stable.

Robin Pastor, spokesperson for the Kirkland Fire Department, said when homes are “yellow-tagged,” it’s expected to last for at least three days.

“The weather will probably determine some of that as well,” she added.

The affected roadway on Goat Hill will remain closed until DOT finishes work there and the area is safe.

“If heavy equipment is brought in, it could further cause problems because of the shaking, that’s why we don’t want people driving vehicles there because any of that could exacerbate the problem,” Pastor noted.

Roads remain closed

The City of Kirkland’s Public Works Department has been monitoring the roadways impacted by the weekend’s floods. The following roads remain closed due to water in the roadway and drivers are asked to obey all road closures:

· Northbound I-405 at the Totem Lake Blvd. exit to 120th Avenue (tunnel)

· Totem Lake Blvd. from 120th Avenue N.E. to N.E. 124th Street

· Totem Lake Blvd. from N.E. 128th St. to N.E. 124th Street.

To report severe flooding or road hazards in Kirkland city limits, call the Public Works Maintenance line at 425-587-3900. Please provide as much detail as possible about the location and impacts of flooding.

The Reporter thanks Darren Jensen, of Kirkland, for submitting flooding photos of the intersection of 124th Street and 95th Ave. N.E. in the Juanita neighborhood.