Ketchikan parish helps community members recover after deadly landslide

A family impacted by the August 25 landslide in Ketchikan that killed a man and destroyed several homes received help from the local Catholic church.

“We [Holy Name Parish personnel] are all here to work,” said Shelly Tradel, administrative assistant at Holy Name. She noted that Father Armand Dice as well as all parish and school staff reported to work safely the following day.

Holy Name Parish, located on the corner of Jackson Street and 5th Avenue, is blocks away from where the landslide swept several homes. The landslide occurred around 4 p.m. above the Third Avenue Bypass in the White Cliff neighborhood.

The city issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents on Third Avenue, Second Avenue, First Avenue, and White Cliff Avenue between Austin and Nadeau Streets. Ketchikan High School and Saxman Community Center were set up as emergency shelters with water, food, and blankets for evacuees.

Following the evacuation order, Holy Name staff, parishioners, and local Knights of Columbus members came together to figure out how the parish should support those in need. It was decided, with Fr. Dice’s approval, that the church open its parish hall to a family of six with small children. The parish hall is equipped with restrooms, showers, and a commercial kitchen.

The family was evacuated from their home due to downed power lines, Tradel said. They stayed at Ketchikan High School for a couple of nights before being transported to the parish. The city provided cots, blankets, and other necessities for the family, according to Tradel.

The family resided in the lower unit of the rectory for about a couple weeks before quietly returning to their home, Tradel said.

Holy Name will continue to offer support to its community through its food closet, which is available to any family in need.

“We will respond to additional needs as they arise,” Tradel said.

As of mid-September, the city was still hoping to open all roads that were closed as a result of the landslide by the end of the month. Alaska’s News Source reported that 1,100 dump trucks of debris had been cleared, three houses were demolished, and the local utility company restored power to all homes connected to the electrical power grid.