2 big mudslides in Mukilteo, one blocks off homes

MUKILTEO — At least two sizable mudslides were reported in the Mukilteo area over the past two days, one of which cut off access to about 45 homes.

Up to eight inches of rain fell in about a 30-hour period, causing much of the trouble, officials said. Meanwhile, police on Thursday were asking drivers to respect weather-related road closures.

The first slide was reported about 9 p.m. Wednesday near the 800 block of the Mukilteo Speedway, according to police and fire blotters.

Some dirt spilled onto the roadway, affecting ferry-travel lanes. State transportation crews were assessing the damage and planning cleanup efforts.

Affected homeowners were advised to seek professional advice on how the slide may have impacted their homes.

The second slide was reported about 2:30 a.m. Thursday near where Picnic Point Road meets Possession Lane, between Mukilteo and Edmonds, officials said.

The slide blocked access to about 45 homes, said Leslie Hynes, spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1. Firefighters made a plan to access the area by boat if rescue vehicles couldn’t reach somebody during a medical emergency, she said.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters remained on scene Thursday evening and were reporting about 30 homes still blocked as of press time.

Crews were working on a couple of trouble spots in the county after the rainfall, emergency management director John Pennington said. Additional slides were possible.

Meanwhile, traffic cops with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office were reporting problems with drivers going around or through barricades on roads closed for weather-related reasons, sheriff’s spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.

Problem areas included landslide-affected roads near Stanwood and Mukilteo, and water over roadways around Lynnwood, she said.

Aside from the danger, drivers could face monetary penalties for breaking the law, she said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.