Thursday, February 17, 2005

District staff, a geotechnical engineer, and a representative from the Provincial Emergency Program met with residents of the remaining ten evacuated homes on Wednesday evening. During this meeting, the District announced that the residents would be returning to their homes in two phases.

For the first phase: The residents of six homes (most of the homes below the slope) will be allowed to return in approximately two to three weeks. For the next phase: It’s expected that four homes will remain vacant for approximately two months. These include three homes on Berkley and one home just below the slope. The province will continue to provide financial support and accommodation for those evacuated.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Dr. Wayne Savigny of BGC Engineering provided evacuees with technical details regarding work still to be done. This includes drilling along the top of the bank to install piezometers, which measure ground water levels and pressure. This work, which begins today, will last throughout the next few weeks and will require the use of a small drill rig. The rig, which punches through the slope’s soil, will also collect data to determine the level of existing fill and help understand the area’s original fill configuration.

This monitoring is an interim risk management step as the District develops a longer term slope management plan.

If work goes according to plan, it’s expected the drilling and placement of sensory instruments will be in place within the next two to three weeks. At this point, the District will have the ability to monitor ground water levels and compare with thresholds, and will then allow residents of the six homes to return.

Meanwhile, for the four homes in the final phase, work will continue on the backyards of the three houses on Berkley. Extensive testing and engineering work will be required on these properties. The damaged home on Chapman Way immediately below the landslide site, will also remain evacuated as engineers determine its safety and required repairs.

The District will continue to meet with the affected families as a group and individually to provide updates and address any concerns.

Friday, February 11, 2005

Investigations by the District’s consultants are continuing and we hope to have further information early in the coming week.

Ten families remain evacuated.

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

No news to report today. The next landslide update will likely appear on Friday, February 11, 2005. We will then have an opportunity to report on the week's events.

The District is still operating its Public Information Line (604-990-2311) and e-mail address (landslide@dnv.org) in order to respond to queries.

Monday, February 7, 2005

Not much news to report: Over the weekend, District crews substantially completed the majority of the needed emergency drainage measures (which included construction of drainage basins with overflow facilities at the bottom of the slope). Crews will be back this week to finish the remaining concrete work and erect fencing around the basin at the toe of the slope. The next step is hydro seeding, whereby the slope is covered with a green paint-like substance, upon which grass and greenery eventually grow.

Yesterday, the District removed its heavy equipment from the site. The majority of the debris has now been removed from the site, most of it temporarily stored at the Inter-River Landfill. Disposal of the debris has started today from our landfill site with two excavators and 14 trucks.

In the meantime, North Shore Emergency Social Services Representatives remain in contact with evacuees concerning their immediate needs, and Senior District staff plan to meet with evacuated families individually. Evacuees will be advised either this week or next as to when they may return home.

Friday, February 4, 2005

Residents of the area may notice some periodic ‘ravelling’ at the slide area. Ravelling is when loose soil along the edges sloughs, or falls, off. This is to be expected and is not a cause for alarm. The basin created on the site will catch any minor run-off from the ravelling.

Ten families remain evacuated. The next ‘phased lifting’ of the evacuation order is expected in the coming weeks, after geotechnical experts further analyze data collected during the analysis of the slide site. District staff will be meeting with these remaining families individually to review their specific cases.

Thursday, February 3, 2005

On Wednesday evening, North Vancouver District lifted the evacuation order for ten families affected by the recent landslide, the first in a series of ‘phased liftings’.

Remedial work has been carried out in the area and the District’s geotechnical consultants have recommended that these ten families be allowed to return home. Remedial work in the area included drainage work to the slope to improve stability and removal of dangerous trees.

Ten other families remain evacuated. The next ‘phased lifting’ is expected in the coming weeks, after geotechnical experts further analyze data collected during the analysis of the slide site. District staff will be meeting with these remaining families individually to review their specific cases.
 

Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Chief Administrative Officer, James Ridge, and other senior staff will meet tonight with evacuated residents to provide updates and to answer any questions they may have.

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Mayor Janice Harris and some members of Council visited the landslide site today to observe ongoing work, including drainage improvements at the toe of the slide. These drainage measures will take longer than originally anticipated - likely stretching into early next week. This work should not affect the phased lifting of the current evacuation and we remain hopeful that some of the evacuees will return to their homes later this week. Our Emergency Social Services (ESS) representatives will keep you posted.

ESS is currently organizing sessions for residents impacted by the slide, which will offer strategies in dealing with the aftermath and subsequent stress. Our ESS team is working on the details regarding these sessions and will contact residents with information as it is made available. We will also post the details on our web site at http://www.dnv.org/, via the daily updates, and other community avenues.

Forensic experts continue with the survey and data collection required for the forensic investigation. This entire process includes analysis of the data and the creation of a computer model to pinpoint the cause of the slide. It may take months before the full forensic report has been completed.