05/15/2023
On 05/14/2023, just after 9:00 PM, The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a massive landslide near Johnston Ridge Observatory on State Route 504. The slide occurred near milepost 49 on State Route 504, within Skamania County. It was initially reported 8-10 individuals were trapped behind the slide, but no one was harmed by the slide itself. Skamania County personnel, coordinating with Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol, began an extraction plan. The Washington State Emergency Management Division was notified and an air asset was acquired for the next morning. At the time of this press release, 12 individuals and a dog were safely extracted from the affected area utilizing King County air support “Guardian 1” and transported to the Coldwater Visitor Center. This is an active situation and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office will release further information, in conjunction with all involved agencies, as it arises.
