Washington State Mudslide: Response In Snohomish County, Resources And Photos [UPDATES]

Update 1:37 a.m. EDT: Search crews will reportedly resume efforts Tuesday morning in Oso, to find the 176 people who are still missing, though the rescue may be hampered by rain, USA Today reported, citing authorities. Search and rescue operations had to be cancelled Monday because of concern about the hillside moving, Emergency Management Director John Pennington reportedly said.

However, the report also added, citing authorities, that many names in the list of 176 missing people could likely be duplicates.

Update 10 p.m. EDT: Officials held another briefing late in the afternoon. They said rescuers are concentrating on areas and structures most likley to harbor survivors. But "most of us ... believe we will not find anyone alive," Emergency Management Director John Pennington said.

The list of missing numbers 176, but is believed to include many duplicates, he said.

Update 7:46 p.m. EDT: The Snohomish County Sheriff's Department reports six more deaths confirmed, bringing the total to 14.

Original story:

Emergency response crews continue their search for victims and plan for the long-term response after a massive mudslide devastated a square mile of Snohomish County, Wash. Here’s the latest in the developing emergency, photos from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and some resources.

As of 2:30 p.m. PDT (5:30 p.m EDT) Monday, eight people have been confirmed dead. Rescue crews say they haven’t heard any voices coming from the area since Saturday night. Around 30 homes have been destroyed.

The count of 108 potential victims that has been reported is considered “fluid.” Snohomish County Emergency Management Director John Pennington said the figure is expected to “decline dramatically" but is a number “that we want to go ahead and disclose and say, ‘That’s what we’re working with’.”

County officials announced around 11 a.m. PDT that rescue crews were pulling back in concern of further mudslide movement.

The Stillaguamish River, which was at a risk of suffering a “catastrophic release” of blocked debris, is flowing “at a good pace,” said Pennington. The flow should ease flooding and prevent a sudden release from further devastating regions downstream.

Inslee announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will immediately assist with the response. The Governor’s office and Snohomish County have set up separate resource pages with information and contacts related to the mudslide.

The governore has been sharing photos of the area on his Flickr page. He called the area “a square mile of total devastation,” which is no exaggeration:

You can donate to the Snohomish County American Red Cross here and follow #530slide for the latest from around Twitter.