Volunteers help mudslide victims

LOGAN — It wasn't the same house that Adam Elsmore had fled from on Saturday.

Police allowed him to re-enter his home Sunday afternoon to get some personal items such as clothing and other things he'd need as he began to get his day-to-day life back in order.

Elsmore was just returning home Saturday when he heard a loud crack. Moments later, a hill pushed its way inside and through his house.

When he returned on Sunday, the front door was blocked with six inches of mud that covered the main floor. As he walked toward the back of his house, it continued to get deeper and deeper. He estimated as much as three to four feet of rocks were resting on his kitchen floor.

"It was a continuation of the hill through our home," Elsmore said. "Everything was really wet."

Elsmore considers himself lucky. His room was on the upper floor of the home and it was impacted minimally. His personal items were mostly OK. He has been staying with family and friends over the weekend, but he wants to start searching for a new apartment this week.

"I feel really fortunate that most of my things were in good condition," Elsmore said. "I have no reason to complain. … I got out safe. My heart goes out to those they're still searching for and to those who lost a permanent residence. I was just a renter."

While the mudslide uprooted Elsmore's life, he's been able to find a silver lining.

"I met a lot of great people and neighbors because of this and I was really impressed by everyone," Elsmore said. "The community came together well, and sometimes situations like these bring out the best in people and it's clear that was the case here."

Residents of the neighborhood known as the Island and other volunteers gathered in full force to assist in any way they could again Sunday as emergency crews worked to recover victims from the rubble of a collapsed home.

With shovels in hand, more than 600 volunteers worked throughout the day to restore their community. John Elsworth, a team leader for the Community Emergency Response Team, said people were eager to help in any way they could, whatever the task.

To help assist in disasters, CERT trains and educates volunteers on how they can be most effective with their time and efforts in emergency situations so police and fire teams can dedicate themselves to immediate needs, he said.