Full Notification

The following press release is relayed on behalf of the Town of Jackson.  Please note that the Community Recovery Center will be open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to offer assistance for all affected by the incident, including those looking for longer term housing, those unemployed due to closed businesses, and those needing assistance with short-term sheltering.  See below Press Release for the open hours of the Community Recovery Center.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LANDSLIDE CONTINUES TO MOVE DOWN BUDGE DRIVE

Jackson, WY.  Geologists confirm Budge Drive Landslide continues to move on a daily basis.  Evacuation order remains in place for all residential units in area as well as Walgreens Commercial Space, Sidewinders, Ignite, and the Wine Shoppe & Spirits.

The Town of Jackson contracted geologist confirmed that the Budge Drive landslide continues to slowly move down the hill, causing continued concerns for emergency management personnel.  Town of Jackson officials hired George Machan of Landslide Technologies out of Portland Oregon to provide an assessment and analysis of the Budge Drive landslide area.  Machan informed Town officials that significant movement had occurred from when he looked at the area on Thursday to when he looked at the area on Friday before leaving town.  Additionally, the Town’s water pump station facility has moved further.  Mr. Machan is expected to return to the community on Tuesday for further review, analysis, and meeting with officials.

The technical engineering and geology team is in the process of streamlining the measurements on the hillside to provide more timely information and they are assessing the feasibility and costs associated with additional borings to install inclinometers in critical locations to more accurately assess and be able to predict the movement.

Weather reports indicate that the Jackson area can anticipate light precipitation tomorrow, and George Machan indicated light to moderate precipitation was not a major concern in relation to the movement of the hillside.  The long term forecast includes moderate precipitation up to ½ inch on Wednesday, April 16, 2014.

Operations through the weekend include a Community Recovery Center at the Teton County Library in the Auditorium from 10:00am – 5:30pm on Saturday, April 12 and from 1:00pm – 5:30 PM on Sunday, April 13, and 10:00am-4:00pm on Monday, April 14.  Red Cross, Workforce Services and Department of Family Services will be available at the library during those times.  The Community Recovery Center is an available resource to any evacuee or affected employee related to this incident.  Workforce Services are available for employees seeking unemployment insurance benefits or for businesses regarding employment tax information.  Department of Family Services is an available resource to assist families with longer term housing needs.

Red Cross will continue to work with evacuees on an individual basis to transition from short term hotel access to a Red Cross shelter.  Red Cross is working to secure a Red Cross Shelter for the next few weeks should the need continue to exist.  Wyoming Homeland Security is flying in a disaster specialist tomorrow to assist with the incident as well.

As noted at the meeting last night, emergency personnel will continue to provide escorted travel for residents to their home from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on April 12 and 13 for those needing access to property and possessions over the weekend.  Effective Monday, April 14, escorts back to residential units under the evacuation order will be by appointment only. 

Updates will be provided on a daily basis throughout the weekend with significant and critical information provided via Nixle alerts as well.

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