Similar landslide hit closer to town in 1979

Though disasters like the 11-Mile landslide are infrequent, they’re not unprecedented in Wrangell. In October 1979, a hillside at 1.4-Mile Zimovia Highway gave way, covering more than 20 acres with mud, trees and debris.

The town had almost nine inches of rain in the first nine days of the month that year, including a record 24-hour rainfall of 4.49 inches on Oct. 9, the day of the slide.

No one was seriously injured and the mudslide did not directly hit any residences. It followed the route of an apartment building driveway as it crossed Zimovia Highway, picking up and dumping a car on the be...

 
 

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