ABSTRACT
During the winter of 1996/97, Seattle, Washington, experienced a devastating landslide spate brought on by a (1) previous wet winter, (2) a rain-on-snow event during the 1996 Christmas and 1997 New Year period, and (3) very heavy rains in March 1997. Signs of a long history of landslides in the Seattle landscape were obvious to the trained eye, and there was institutional knowledge of significant damage due to landsliding in 1933/34, 1971/72, 1973/74, and 1985/86, but nothing could prepare Seattle for the winter of 1996/97. Within the City, more than 300 landslides were recorded and approximately $34 million of damage was sustained due to municipal cleanup and infrastructure repairs. It was estimated that as much as $50 million was lost in private property. More than 300 landslides occurred on the 37-kilometer-long Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad line between Seattle and Everett.
