On August 18, 2015, rapid, heavy rain triggered more than 40 landslides on Baranof and Chichagof Islands. The biggest slide was on Harbor Mountain in Sitka and stretched 1,200 feet. It killed three men and caused massive damage to property on Kramer Avenue.
The community, led by the Sitka Fire Department, came together to support the search for lost men, clear roads, and repair damaged property. Sitka Sound Science Center helped gather a team of geologic and climate experts and volunteers from Alaska and around the country. This overwhelming response of dedicated individuals was marked the start of the Sitka Geo Task Force, which continues to grow today.
Today, participants on the Geo Task Force work together in a number or ways, whether that is sharing data, collaborating on projects, or developing interesting research questions.
Members of the GeoTask Force collaborated to pool existing information about the slide area and to determine the next steps in terms of research, synthesis and risk analysis. These experts and volunteers filled in knowledge gaps relating to the risk of natural disasters in the region and shared relevant information with the community.