Hydro crews reinstall power poles along Eastside Road on April 10 (City of Vernon photo)
The City of Vernon has confirmed the cause of Tuesday’s landslide on Eastside Road.
A geo-technical engineering report says it was most likely a result of saturated ground conditions on a steep embankment above the road.
The mud and debris slide, which occurred around 1:30 am Tuesday, caused damage to one house and a couple of vehicles, but no one was injured.
Homeowner Larry Gilchuck told Global News, says it sounded like a train coming into his house, which woke him and his wife, Goret Fontoura, up.
“I’ve never ever had anything scare the living……out of me, because you don’t even know if the ground you are standing on is going to be there in ten seconds,” says Gilchuck who says insurance won’t cover the damage.
Gilchuck told Global, it was chaos, with his wife screaming, dogs barking, and the power out.
He says they phoned 911, and they told him to stay in their house due to live wires in the driveway.
Fontoura says a vehicle was pushed into her closet, which she thought may have contained a person.
“I went out the front door and I finally saw that it was a mudslide, and it was my own car that was in the closet of my bedroom.”
Road access was restored that same afternoon, and power were back by late that night after two power poles were taken down.
The City says the debris has been removed and temporary improvements have been completed to ensure that the site is safe.
“We are currently preparing a plan to permanently stabilize and repair the embankment area where the slide occurred,” says James Rice, Manager of Public Works “Work will likely occur within the next four to six weeks.”
City crews will continue to monitor road side ditches and culverts in that area to ensure drainage systems are functioning properly.
