Monday night’s landslide tore down a swath of evergreen trees, striking three homes and burying a highway near the island community of Wrangell.
It was estimated to be 450 feet wide, occurring during a period of intense rainfall and heavy winds.
Authorities say that parents Timothy Heller, 44, and his wife Beth Heller, 36, were at home with their three young children – Mara, 16, Derek, 12, and Kara, 11, when the landslide hit the area. Their home was one of the three struck by the catastrophe.
Search crews found the bodies of the parents and their oldest daughter Mara late on Monday or early Tuesday morning but the two younger children remain missing, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said.
The Heller’s neighbors Otto Florschutz, 65, and his wife were also inside one of the houses affected by the devastating landslide – he remains missing but his wife survived.
Those caught in a fatal landslide in Alaska ‘s southeast region have been identified as a family of five
Monday night’s landslide tore down a swath of evergreen treest, striking three homes and burying a highway near the island community of Wrangell. It was estimated to be 450 feet wide and the disaster occurred during a period of intense rainfall and heavy winds
Authorities say that parents Timothy Heller, 44, and his wife Beth Heller, 36, were at home with their three young children – Mara, 16, Derek, 12, and Kara, 11, when the landslide hit the area. Their home was one of the three struck by the catastrophe
Search crews found the bodies of the parents and their oldest daughter Mara late on Monday or early Tuesday morning but the two younger children remain missing
Roughly 35 to 45 people have chosen to stay in the area, said Mason Villarma, interim borough manager.
Boats are being used to provide supplies including food, fuel, water and prescription medications.
Members of the Wrangell community took to Facebook to share their heartbroken reactions to the tragedy.
People in a Facebook group called Wrangell Strong Community Relief Group have been organizing donations and efforts to help amend the damage caused by the landslide.
Yvonne Heller – mother of Timothy Heller – shared someone’s post from the group that said: ‘On the night of November 20th, heavy rains caused a landslide in Wrangell that washed away 3 homes and claimed at least 3 lives, not to mention evacuating 20-30 people from their homes.
‘But in the midst of this horrific tragedy, I have seen the goodness of God at work through our community. I am so blessed to call Wrangell home, where everyone is considered family.’
Members of the Wrangell community took to Facebook to share their heartbroken reactions to the tragedy
The landslide cut off about 54 other homes from town. Roughly 35 to 45 people have chosen to stay in the area, said Mason Villarma, interim borough manager
A close friend of the Heller family said: ‘Monday night was the LONGEST night ever, for I think most of Wrangell. Beth and her family were the first people I thought about’
A close friend of the Heller family said: ‘Monday night was the LONGEST night ever, for I think most of Wrangell. Beth and her family were the first people I thought about.’
‘They found Mara, Beth, and Tim. They are still looking for Kara and Derek (the younger kids), as well as another man, Otto Florschutz. Please pray they find them today so they can be put to rest,’ she wrote on Facebook.
The family friend also organized a GoFundMe to collect donations for the landslide relief.
‘Please donate here if you would like to send financial help to the families directly dealing with the damage and loss of their homes and loved ones because of the November 20th landslide in the community of Wrangell, Alaska,’ the GoFundMe page said.
‘An outpouring of help has come from many people all over the state and country, we know folks want to help the families involved so this GoFundMe and an account at First Bank in Wrangell, Alaska has been set up.’
The fundraiser has collected $30,636 so far out of the $200,000 goal in support of Wrangell.
Pictured: Ground teams, including search and rescue dogs, actively work to search areas that state geologists have determined safe for entry, Wednesday following a massive landslide at mile 11 of the Zimovia Highway.
The Hellers ran a construction company called Heller High Water, said Tyla Nelson, who described herself as Beth Heller’s best friend since high school
Pictured: A helicopter arriving near mile 11 of the Zimovia Highway
The Hellers ran a construction company called Heller High Water, said Tyla Nelson, who described herself as Beth Heller’s best friend since high school.
Beth and Timothy both grew up in Wrangell and married in August 2010, Nelson said.
Nelson sobbed as she described her friend as a ‘fantastic human.’
‘And she was a wonderful mother,’ she said. ‘She did everything for those babies.’
Wrangell School District Superintendent Bill Burr said in an email Friday that counseling would be available for students and staff Monday when school resumes after the Thanksgiving break.
‘The loss of even one child is a very difficult time, and having an entire family with three students is devastating,’ Burr wrote.