Support Chris Riley and Family After Tragic Landslide

Sunday 8/25/24 was a very devastating day for Ketchikan, AK when a landslide struck, hurting a few people, damaging some houses and tragically killing one.

My dad Chris works for the City of Ketchikan streets department and was called in to work to clear storm drains (as he did very often any time it storms or snows), which means showing up to work on your day off to drive around in bad weather and get soaked. It’s never a job that anyone wants to do, but one that my dad and his crew signed up for. He and his coworker Sean were driving along the bypass when the landslide struck, and their truck ended up somewhere near the houses on 2nd ave, to the left of the slide I believe. Hearing my dad tell his story of what happened is honestly so scary to hear. It’s an actual miracle he survived but so tragic that Sean didn’t. It breaks my heart for his family that they have to suffer a loss like this.

I am so grateful for the first responders who got to him as quickly as they did. Any longer and this post would have looked a whole lot different. They were able to quickly get him to the hospital and into surgery. He crushed almost every rib on the left side and punctured said lung. Some of his right side ribs are also broken as well as a ruptured, now removed spleen. He is expected to be in the hospital for at least another week or two, and an extensive recovery at home after that. But we’ll take any of this if it means he gets to spend more time with his grand babies.

If you feel inclined to donate it would be so appreciated. My dad has no estimated return to work window (will likely be a long time) and my mom will be off for quite some time taking care of him and getting him to appointments.