Residents cleaning up after Whidbey Island landslide
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WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. -- Neighbors are cleaning up after a Wednesday afternoon landslide destroyed a home and damaged others on Whidbey Island.
The house that took the brunt of the force was turned almost sideways and is now just inches away from falling into Puget Sound.
Nobody was hurt in the 100-yard slide, but a lot of damage was done to several summer homes.
Homeowners and neighbors spent much of Thursday pulling trees, rocks and debris from homes.
"It's worse than I thought it was. It's really bad," said homeowner Karen Van Proyen.
At first glance, Van Proyen thought her summer home didn't survive the slide, but it turns out the mud destroyed her neighbor's house instead. That home was knocked off its foundation and nearly swept to the sea.
County inspectors say the home is a total loss, but the owner didn't know until neighbor Glen Van Proyen phoned him. Van Proyen said he took the news in stride.
"He said he thought he'd put it up for sale as beach front property as is -- a fixer-upper," Van Proyen said.
It could take the neighborhood months to get back to normal, but greenbelt expert Elliot Menashe warned neighbors that the area has had huge slides in the past and it could easily happen again.
"It's prone to sliding," Menashe said. "Houses may have been built in poor locations and it's just a matter of time."
Despite that warning, the Van Proyens say they'll won't leave.
"You hope it doesn't happen, but if it does you just clean up and move on," said Karen Van Proyen.
County officials worry there will be more slides in the area if the rain continues.
The house that took the brunt of the force was turned almost sideways and is now just inches away from falling into Puget Sound.
Nobody was hurt in the 100-yard slide, but a lot of damage was done to several summer homes.
Homeowners and neighbors spent much of Thursday pulling trees, rocks and debris from homes.
"It's worse than I thought it was. It's really bad," said homeowner Karen Van Proyen.
At first glance, Van Proyen thought her summer home didn't survive the slide, but it turns out the mud destroyed her neighbor's house instead. That home was knocked off its foundation and nearly swept to the sea.
County inspectors say the home is a total loss, but the owner didn't know until neighbor Glen Van Proyen phoned him. Van Proyen said he took the news in stride.
"He said he thought he'd put it up for sale as beach front property as is -- a fixer-upper," Van Proyen said.
It could take the neighborhood months to get back to normal, but greenbelt expert Elliot Menashe warned neighbors that the area has had huge slides in the past and it could easily happen again.
"It's prone to sliding," Menashe said. "Houses may have been built in poor locations and it's just a matter of time."
Despite that warning, the Van Proyens say they'll won't leave.
"You hope it doesn't happen, but if it does you just clean up and move on," said Karen Van Proyen.
County officials worry there will be more slides in the area if the rain continues.
Wow. I am saddened by such critical and mean comments. People making comments about things they know nothing about! These people, BTW, have worked VERY hard for their cabin. You should have seen the place when it was first purchased 25 years ago. They took a mess and worked hard, turning it into a beautiful home. They are not rich...but they are hard workers. Nothing was was or will be handed to them from a private party or from the government. So don't worry--your tax dollars won't go to these wonderful people.Â
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Aaron, you are so right in what you said. :) Thank you.
What part of the island is this slide?
 @swan  It was on the southeast side of Whidbey.
These people aren't dumb, nor are they rich.  They are honest, hard-working people who know excactly what they signed up for when they acquired their beach homes. They also don't expect any help from the government. I can assure you that no public funds will be used.  This is not the first or the last slide that will hit The Cove, and all the residents are fully aware of that. I promise you that these homeowners will be back and enjoying their beachfront property as soon as they possibly can. "Cleaning up and moving on" doesn't always stem from a result of spending lots of money...more than anything it requires a lot of elbow-grease and neighbors working together.
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It is amazing how critical people are on these message boards...especially when they obviously don't know anything about these people that have been unfortunately affected by mother nature.
 @AaronC Yes! Absolutely Aaron! You are 100% right. THANK YOU!
We had an old women who lived down the beach from us 60 years ago, one night she was taking a bath when the ground broke and she rode 150 ft down the bluff in her bathtub. She didn't have much money or insurance so she recycled the timbers from her aging home and rebuilt it as a smaller cabin right on the spot where it landed on the beach. She lived in that cabin until she died at the age of 88Â in the early 1970's
how dumb can people be, whidbey, bainbridge, goofy people want the water veiw and built on a hill that has nothing to hold the hill together. but that's their choice to gamble with. hopefully the government wont be on the hook for any part of it.
Kudos to the people living in the area, coming together to cut down some of the fallen trees and to call neighbors to tell them what's going on. In my neighborhood everyone just ignores everyone else.Â
 @PrairieDawn Yes, isn't it wonderful? It's because Glenn and Karen would do anything for anyone over there. Glenn is the first one to offer to help someone in need. They are genuinely caring people. So happy that there ARE kind, good people in this world...unlike some of the critical people on this board.
"You hope it doesn't happen, but if it does you just clean up and move on," said Karen Van Proyen.
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Nice to have that kind of money.
 @Furd You have no idea what you're talking about. So keep quiet, unless you have something worthwhile to say. These people do not have "that kind of money." Please don't label all people who have things as rich. Most people who have things have EARNED them by working hard.
"County officials worry there will be more slides in the area if the rain continues." Well, I guess they better keep worrying.
What do they expect living at the foot of a hill that slides?? I had a business at the east foot of Queen Ann hill and it was a worry when the spring rains came that it would come down on me. They may have had a nice view, but look at their view now.
Scary. So glad no one was hurt.