OSO, Wash. — Ten years ago, the deadliest landslide in U.S. history struck the small town of Oso, Washington.
Forty-three people were killed on March 22, 2014, when the hillside above the Steelhead Haven neighborhood collapsed, wiping out state Route 530, homes and cars.
KING 5 is releasing Oso, a five-part podcast series, the week leading up to the 10th anniversary of the landslide. We will show what happened during this catastrophic disaster, walk with those who spent weeks searching for victims and learn more about the impact the Oso landslide still has on survivors today.
Listen to the first episode now and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to the latest episodes on KING 5+, KING 5's free streaming app, which is available on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
The Slide
Released March 18
It was a beautiful Saturday morning in the close-knit community of Oso, Washington when the hillside gave way.
The community had seen a record-breaking start to the year with twice the average rainfall falling in February and March. But on March 22, 2014, spring was in the air.
At 10:37 a.m., a landslide changed that community forever.
The Response
Released March 19
When a helicopter team first responded to the landslide, it took their breath away. All they could see was mud, trees and debris where 20 homes previously stood.
On the ground, first responders recalled rescuing Robin Youngblood and her friend Jetty Dooper, who were clinging to the unattached roof of Youngblood’s mobile home, which had washed away in a tidal wave of mud.
The Searching
Released March 20
Several days after the landslide, the death toll was growing, and the severity of the situation was setting in. At one point, first responders said they were searching for as many as 200 missing people.
Local officials and emergency managers recalled what it was like to navigate the response and how the community pulled together.
The Aftermath
Released March 21
What caused the landslide? University of Washington Geomorphology Professor David Montgomery, who was part of the team that produced a post-incident report, explained the science behind the incident.
A local firefighter who lost his wife in the slide also spoke out, saying he thinks more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
‘Oso Strong’
Released March 22
Ten years after the Oso landslide, the community is getting ready to unveil a new memorial that will honor the 43 lives lost. Community members share how it came together and what they hope it symbolizes for generations to come.
Follow coverage of the Oso landslide 10 years later throughout the week of March 18-22 and tune in to a 30-minute special on KING 5 and KING 5+ on March 22 at 7 p.m.