Residents in Arroyo Seco preparing for potential slide

ARROYO SECO, CALIF (KION-TV) UPDATE APRIL 2, 2023, AT 5:24 PM- People living along Arroyo Seco Road are preparing for what might come with a potentially dangerous landslide.

“If it's going to happen, it’s going to happen," Raymond Orta, who lives in Arroyo Seco, said.

That slide hovering over Arroyo Seco Road continues to grow.

So how have people in the area felt since it first started?

KION went to hear from the community and ask what are they doing to prepare.

It's been several weeks since our first report on this -- since then, people on Arroyo Seco Road say their mail isn't being delivered because the area is considered unsafe to drive in.

The landslide on Arroyo Seco Road continues to grow throughout the weeks.

Raymond Orta, who has lived in the area for 28 years, explained what he’s seen so far.

“Right now, it's pretty good, but it's more and more, you know, coming down.”

Even if it isn’t happening now, people are preparing for the worst. Fortunately for Raymond, the trailers he takes care of are safe.

"Yeah, they’re getting ready because you don't know what's going to happen.”

Monterey County is monitoring the slide with the help of the California Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.

They’re not too concerned with the possible rain this week, saying in part quote:

We are not confident that the precipitation will trigger a landslide during this rain event. The evacuation warning will remain in place, and the soft closure for residents only will remain in place. We are encouraging people to remain vigilant and avoid the area when possible.

Monterey County

This doesn’t stop people from ignoring warnings from the county.

“They would just come like nothing happened. But I tell them, you know, it's closed. You can't come in because it's danger," said Orta.

As far as people who don't live here in the area, these road closure signs here behind me have been ignored, according to Raymond.

He said he's seen these road closure signs being moved to the side as people try and drive a little closer and to get better photos and videos…

Even with CAL FIRE emphasizing, these signs are up for their safety.

The county also informs Kion that if the public sees any movement from the slide, contact public works as soon as possible.

AlertCalifornia camera installed to monitor landslide at Arroyo Seco

UPDATE ON MAY 1, 2023, AT 12:50 PM- Monterey County Officials, CAL FIRE, and state geologists are continuing to monitor a landslide in Arroyo Seco with the installation of an AlertCalifornia camera in the area.

The camera was installed by the California Department of Emergency Services to monitor the hillside where the slide occurred.

County officials said that the landslide has stopped moving at this time, but it can continue to move. The public can see the feed too on the Alert California camera webpage. The camera is called Piney Creek 2.

The landslide is located near the intersection of Arroyo Seco Road and Carmel Valley Road. Geologists placed stakes in the slide area and officials were able to use drone footage to evaluate the slide.

Arroyo Seco Road has also been hit hard with this year's winter storms impacting nearby locations. Arroyo Seco Road at Carmel Valley Road remains closed to the public until repairs can be made on the section west of Carmel Valley Road.

The Monterey County Public Works Department is in the process of designing and preparing for roadway repairs which could begin as early as June.

Residents in Arroyo Seco say looming landslide has them banding together

On Arroyo Seco and Carmel Valley Road, a landslide shut down the roads next to the mountain.

For neighbors like Mark Thomas, it's different from what they've seen in the past.

“This slide is probably bigger than what we've seen, but there are constant small slides up here,” Thomas said. “You're constantly dodging rocks on the road.”

After rounds of winter storms, a landslide is another issue that they're dealing with, but some, like Greg Fraser, say it could be worse.

“Just kind of gotta roll with the punches,” Fraser said. “And then you look around and a lot of other areas and what are the other people enduring, and it's, you know, you don't feel so bad off.”

According to Fire Captain Curtis Rhodes, CAL FIRE is closely monitoring the slide.

“We deployed our drones into the air, which we have capabilities to take measurements via lasers,” Rhodes said/ “We did that yesterday, took a few measurements passed out on to the geologists, which are now out here today on their ATVs.”

The agency also plans to put marker stakes up to measure the landslide's progress.

As firefighters get to work, neighbors check in with each other and keep each other safe. 

“There's a little bit of a community like that out here where everybody, you know, looks out for each other, you know, as much as we can,” Fraser said.

“We help each other out,” Thomas said. “Somebody who's out of water we’ll get them water. Some help, you know, or an evacuation would pitch in and help, you know.”

CAL FIRE understands people will want to come and take pictures of the landslide, but they do emphasize taking precautions as these road closures are put there for your safety. 

CAL FIRE also says that even though the website will say otherwise, the Arroyo Seco Campground is also closed for at least another month.