Dozens more homes in the Southeast town of Haines were evacuated Thursday night as rain continued soaking the mountainsides near residential neighborhoods. Emotions are raw as community members cope with being pushed out of their homes and seeing their friends go missing.

Chuck Mittman welcomes evacuees and volunteers to Haines’ American Legion hall with a smile. December 2, 2020. (Stremple/KHNS)

The emergency alert popped up on people’s cell phones in Haines just after 8 p.m. Thursday night. It had been raining all day and continued to rain into the evening.

Mudslides had already swept away  houses and left two people missing, and officials feared there would be more slides as the rain kept coming down.

“It sounded like when 3 feet of snow gets enough rain and it falls off your metal roof–that same little rumble,” he said.

David Rickey was on the phone with a friend when his neighborhood was evacuated. Lights flashed outside and a Haines Borough police officer rapped on his door. 

“I’m not sure how he phrased it but, but the tone of his voice said get the heck out of here,” said Rickey.

He and his neighbors spent the night in hotels after reporting to the American Legion Hall where an army of volunteers is helping connect  evacuees with shelter. Plastic pop-up tables are piled high with clothing, toiletries, and food. It’s almost too warm inside and smells like coffee.

Haines school teacher Rebecca McCoy helped set up a space for displaced kids to decompress. Kids are playing ping pong and air hockey.

Kids from evacuated homes have a room where they can draw, run around, or cuddle a stuffed animal at the American Legion Hall. Dec. 4, 2020. (Stremple/KHNS)

“There’s room to run around. There’s even a little place with touchable things for the little kids some stuffies. We’ve been trying to find stuffed animals. And as kids come in, they can get something to hug and hold.” she said.

Other teachers from the district have been visiting during the day. Counselors are on site for anyone who needs to talk. Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium counselor Kelly Williamsen addressed the crowd at the Legion.

“There is no shame in what any of what you’re going through right now, period. So if you need to talk … this is what we’re here for right now,” she said.

Back-up counselors are coming this weekend from Juneau to help support the school.

Mayor Doulas Olerud was there to give an update. He was born and raised in Haines; he runs the family grocery and sporting goods store with his sister. He says it’s hard to take the emotion out of the job when friends are missing and displaced.

“It’s tough,” he said.

“You gotta keep doing the job. But we’re making it. We’ve got a lot of good people supporting us over there… and, you know, a good cry a few times a day helps.”

Arthur Woodard and Gooch evacuated their Beach Road home after mudslides. Dec. 4, 2020. (Stremple/KHNS)

He had some errands between town updates and a press conference, and one important pit stop. To hike up to his parents’ house and give them both a hug.

After the meeting displaced resident Arthur Woodard and his 160 pound malamute headed back towards their hotel room. A rescue boat picked the Woodards off a sandy shore below their Beach Road home Wednesday. They were reunited with their dog Friday morning after a pet rescue boat found him on the beach.

“The whole community has been such a blessing,” Woodard said, his mask fogging up his glasses.

“I mean, my gosh! They evacuated us, they checked us in [to a motel], made sure that we were healthy, and it was just very thorough.”

There was even donated pet food. 

Rain and snow are predicted to continue into next week. There is a winter weather advisory in Haines through Saturday afternoon.