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Updated — September 2004
The remnants of Hurricane Ivan tracked across western North Carolina
on September 16-17, 2004. In addition to flooding, property damage and
interruption of transportation corridors occurred owing to landslides
and downslope movement of earth and rock triggered by very heavy and
intense rainfall.
Return to our "What's News" page for a link to a page showing
counties affected by landslides from Hurricane Frances.
Landslide fact sheet — Western North Carolina
Click here for a landslide
fact sheet for western North Carolina (PDF file only).
Counties affected by landslides — Western North Carolina
The following graphic shows North Carolina counties affected by landslides
for which we have information as of 11:00am, Tuesday, September 21,
2004. We plan to update this map as additional information becomes available.
North Carolina Geological Survey provides assistance
Peeks Creek Debris Flow Update - Sept. 21, 2004
Heavy rains from Hurricane Ivan triggered the Peeks Creek debris flow,
sometime around 10:00 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2004. Investigations are underway
to determine the underlying geologic causes of the debris flow that
originated near the top of Fishhawk Mountain at about elevation 4400
feet. The path, or track, of the debris flow is about 2 miles long from
top to bottom end near the confluence of Peeks Creek and the Cullasaja
River.
The focus of the initial investigation is to determine if rescue and
recovery operations along Peeks Creek would be in danger from additional
landslides along the debris flow track. Although there are some unstable
slopes along deeply incised segments of the track, it is unlikely that
if landslides occur in these areas they would impact current recovery
operations, unless the slides occur during heavy rainfall. Piled up
trees, soil and rocks in narrow areas of the debris flow track, however,
have created a potential for debris dams to form. These areas could
unsafely impound water during heavy rainfall, thus presenting a dam
failure flooding potential in the steep valley.
The geologic investigation into the causes of the debris flow will
take some time, but all evidence so far points to the debris flow originating
on steep slopes (35-55 degrees) with relatively thin soil (less than
3-5 feet thick). The Peeks Creek debris flow appears to have occurred
naturally, and does not appear to be related to any human activity such
as road building in the area where the debris flow began.
No evidence found to date confirms the presence of a preexisting body
of water in the upper part of the debris flow track that would have
contributed a large volume of water to the Sept. 16 debris flow. The
North Carolina Geological Survey is trying to locate aerial photography
of the area taken between Sept. 5 and Sept. 16 to determine if any slope
movements or water impoundment had occurred during Hurricane Frances
that may have contributed to the Sept. 16 event. It is possible that
heavy rains from Frances may have initiated some movement in area, and
the following rainfall from Ivan provided enough water to trigger the
rapid, catastrophic debris flow of September 16.
Debris flows and other landslides have occurred in the past, and will
occur in the future in the North Carolina mountains. Hurricanes triggered
widespread debris flows in the North Carolina mountains in 1916 and
again in 1940. A strong tropical depression in 1977 also triggered numerous
debris flows. Although many debris flows occurred in remote areas, debris
flows and other types of landslides caused fatalities in both 1916 and
1940.
For additional information
The contact for additional information about geologic hazards in North
Carolina is Mr. Richard Wooten, P.G.; his e-mail is Rick.Wooten@ncmail.net.
He is located in the Swannanoa, North Carolina office (western North
Carolina) and can be reached by telephone at 828.296.4500. His mailing
address is: 2090 U. S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778.
An alternate North Carolina Survey staff geologist contact is Dr. Jeff
Reid, P.G., 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1612.
His telephone number is 919.733.2423 x403. His e-mail is Jeff.Reid@ncmail.net.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — A debris flow,
a type of landslide, destroyed fifteen homes and resulted in several
deaths.
This view was taken from a helicopter by a North Carolina Geological
Survey staff geologist on Sunday, September 19, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view was taken
from a helicopter by a North Carolina staff geologist on Sunday,
September 19, 2004. Much of the nearly 2-mile-long debris flow
track is shown.
Image taken by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 19, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view was taken
from a helicopter by a North Carolina staff geologist on Sunday,
September 19, 2004. This view shows the steep slope near the point
where the debris flow originated.
Image taken by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 19, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view is looking
upslope along the debris flow track and shows some of the debris
flow deposits.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 19, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
some of the debris flow deposits. Note people for scale.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 19, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
a destroyed home located in the lower third of the debris flow
track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
a damaged home located in the lower third of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
a destroyed vehicle located in the lower third of the debris flow
track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
two destroyed vehicles and wooded debris located in the lower
third of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
a home that was moved off its foundation by the debris flow (home
on left); a completely destroyed home (debris pile) is on the
right. These homes were located in the lower third of the debris
flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
two structures damaged by the debris flow. These homes were located
in the lower third of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
one structure damaged by the debris flow. This structure is located
in the lower third of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
the size of the boulders transported by the debris flow (downstream
to the left). These deposits are is located in the middle third
of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 28, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
boulders oriented in the direction that the debris flow moved
(downstream to the left). These deposits are is located in the
middle third of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 20, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
the debris flow track (remnants of Fish Hawk Mountain road in
background). Debris flow moved moved downstream to the right.
These deposits are is located in the middle third of the debris
flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 20, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
the scoured debris flow track and earlier colluvium behind geologist.
Debris flow moved downstream to the left. These deposits are located
in the middle third of the debris flow track.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 20, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
a destroyed cabin in the upper third of the debris flow track.
Debris flow moved downstream to the left.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 20, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
the source area for the debris flow. The exposed bedrock area
is about the size of a football field and slopes 35 to 55 degrees.
Geologist (right upper corner for scale).
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 20, 2004.
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Macon Co. — Peeks Creek Community — This view shows
scrape marks on the exposed bed rock in the debris flow source
area. These indicate material riding over the bedrock. Yellow
pocket knife (center) for scale.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 20, 2004.
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Haywood County — Rock slide along 1-40. Courtesy of WRAL-TV
on-line edition of September 18, 2004.
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Haywood County, NC — Hebo Mountain — Tension cracks
opening up in garden adjacent to house. Slope failure behind house.
Image taken by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 24, 2004.
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Haywood County, NC — Hebo Mountain — Tension cracks
opening up in garden adjacent to house.
Image taken by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 24, 2004.
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Haywood County, NC — Hebo Mountain — Tension cracks
opening up in garden adjacent to house foundation (depression
adjacent to house foundation). There is a slide scarp in the left
part of the image (see image above).
Image taken by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 24, 2004.
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Haywood County, NC — Hebo Mountain — Embankment failure
(debris flow) along driveway leading to home. The material from
this embankment failure impacted state road NC209.
Image taken by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 24, 2004.
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Buncombe County, NC —
Starnes Cove — Home destroyed by a debris flow. Image taken
by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September
23, 2004. |
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Buncombe County, NC — Starnes Cove — Home destroyed
by a debris flow. Courtesy of Asheville Citizen-Times on-line
edition of September 18, 2004.
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Buncombe County, NC —
Starnes Cove — Home damaged by a debris flow. Image taken by
a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September
23, 2004. |
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Buncombe County, NC — Starnes Cove — Debris flow track;
note muddy overbank deposits and mud line on tree about 20 feet
above geologist's head. Image taken by a North Carolina Geological
Survey staff geologist on September 23, 2004.
Image taken were two debris flow tracks coalesced.
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Buncombe County, NC — Starnes Cove — View looking uphill
along the scoured track toward a debris flow source. Image taken
by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September
23, 2004.
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Buncombe County, NC — Starnes Cove — View looking uphill
toward a debris flow's apparent source at an abandoned road. Image
taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on
September 23, 2004.
Red dashed line shows the failure surface on the ground slope.
Flattened vegetation shows the direction of movement downhill
toward geologist.
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Buncombe County, NC — Starnes Cove — Tension crack
in road bed about debris flow scarp. This feature indicates likely
future instability.
Image taken by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist
on September 23, 2004.
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For additional information
The contact for additional information about geologic hazards in North
Carolina is Mr. Richard Wooten, P.G.; His e-mail is Rick.Wooten@ncmail.net.
He is located in the Swannanoa, North Carolina office (western North
Carolina) and can be reached by telephone at 828.296.4500. His mailing
address is: 2090 U. S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778.
An alternate North Carolina Survey staff geologist contact is Dr. Jeff
Reid, P.G., 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1612.
His telephone number is 919.733.2423 x403. His e-mail is Jeff.Reid@ncmail.net.
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