'Our family is together again': Dogs rescued from leveled home week after Alaska landslide
When a landslide destroyed an Alaska couple's home, the two began grieving their dogs who were buried under the rubble. One excruciating week later, their family is reunited now safe and sound.
James and William (Bill) Montiver's three-story house collapsed on Aug. 25 after a landslide leveled homes and businesses in Ketchikan, Alaska, a city facing the Inside Passage located in the southeastern part of the state. The married couple were lucky enough to have survived the disaster, which city officials said killed one person and hospitalized three others.
The landslide brought the couple's home down 47 feet into their neighbor’s home, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough wrote in a news release. James managed to escape the scene on his own, while Bill was rescued by first responders. However, their two dogs, Alani and Cassie, could not be found despite additional attempts to locate them throughout the next week.
By Sunday morning, geologist Travis Watkins heard whimpering from the tumbled down house, warranting search and rescue efforts. Fire crews assessed the property's stability and carried out an entry plan, eventually safely retrieving the sister pets.
Firefighter and EMT Crystal Schleiff said she shimmied through a three foot crawl space as well as foot and a half void when she saw blinking eyes, according to the news release.
She couldn't help to make a high pitch voice as she yelled "I found the dog, I see eyes and they're blinking." The dogs were returned to their owners and treated by a veterinarian.
Couple says they made 'private goodbyes' to their dogs
Following a suspenseful seven days, the Montivers, who have been together for 43 years, are beyond relieved to be with their dogs again.
“We are humbled and blessed that Cassie and Alani have been returned to us, and our family is together again. We are so thankful to the first responders and to everyone who has helped us this week," James Montiver said in a news release.
James told NBC News they were convinced their dogs didn't make it or someone else got a hold of them, adding that "we basically said our private goodbyes to them."
The sound of the landslide convinced Bill that a plane was about to crash into their house, he told NBC News.
James injured his shoulder and broke four ribs when the landslide threw him into the ceiling and down to his the sofa. Meanwhile, the pair believes Bill was protected by their Bosch dishwasher he was hiding behind when the wall collapsed.
"We owe a big thank you to Bosch," James said.
Landslide damaged roads, sparked evacuations
In addition to killing one person, injuring several others and leveling properties, the landslide also significantly damaged roads, caused power outages and required mandatory evacuations.
Ketchikan officials said the disaster began when land detached from a hill side on August 25 at about 4 p.m. local time.
"In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude," Mayor Dave Kiffer said in a news release. "The loss of life that we have encountered is heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to those who lost their homes."
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster emergency declaration for the city that night adding that his "thoughts and prayers are with residents of Ketchikan tonight."
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund