Christina Florschutz experienced a harrowing ordeal when a landslide struck her home near the southeast Alaska island community of Wrangell. As she dressed after a shower, she heard a terrifying noise, instantly recognizing it as a landslide. Having encountered natural disasters like tornadoes and mudslides in the past, she was familiar with the ominous sound.
The force of the mountainside impact tossed Florschutz around her home, rendering her unconscious. In a recent interview with the Wrangell Sentinel and KSTV radio, she recounted the incident while anxiously awaiting news about her missing husband, 65-year-old commercial fisherman Otto Florschutz.
The landslide occurred on November 20, affecting three homes, with one being unoccupied. Tragically, four individuals lost their lives in the disaster: Timothy and Beth Heller along with their children Kara (11) and Mara (16). Two more individuals, Derek Heller (12) and Otto Florschutz, remain missing.
Christina Florschutz, the sole survivor found thus far, described the aftermath. When she regained consciousness amid the rubble, she was trapped between her house’s roof and debris. Despite the discomfort, she remained determined to survive. Using a bag of polar fleece she found, she fashioned makeshift insulation, providing a source of comfort through the night.
After sunrise, Florschutz managed to free herself and discovered the extent of the destruction. Her house had slid mostly intact until colliding with an old shop, causing separation and further descent. Parts of her home ended up in the ocean.
Wrapped in large women’s fleece pajama bottoms she found, Florschutz navigated the debris field, searching for an exit. Eventually, a group discovered her, placing her on a sled and dragging her to safety. Although she spent the following week recovering from injuries at the local hospital, she expressed gratitude for her survival and the community’s support.
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Florschutz considers her survival a miracle and emphasized the communal spirit in Alaska, where people learn to live together and support one another, avoiding the isolation of being an island. Looking forward to returning to her role as an aide at Evergreen Elementary, she views her survival as a testament to the resilience and strength of the community.