Crews search through night; Oso mudslide death toll 14, reports of 176 missing
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The Stillaguamish River is shown backed up at left in this aerial photo Monday, March 24, 2014, near Arlington, Wash., after it was blocked on Saturday by the massive mudslide shown at right, that killed at least 14 people and left dozens missing. The search for survivors grew Monday raising fears that the death toll could climb far beyond the eight confirmed fatalities. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Emergency management to host a news conference on latest search efforts at 9 a.m.
Snohomish County reports six more bodies found in mudslide; death toll at 14
Number of people reported missing grows to 176, but officials confident death toll to be much lower
Lights were added to the debris field Monday night so searching could continue around the clock.
Search and rescue teams have found six more bodies, bringing the death toll to 14 following Saturday's massive mudslide in Oso.
Officials said late Monday afternoon they have now received 176 reports of missing persons in the 1-square-mile mudslide.
Many of the 176 names are believed to be duplicates. According to John Pennington in the Snohomish County Emergency Operations Center Tuesday morning, "We know that the community was approximately 200. And we also know that it was Saturday morning and a lot of people were home. And (State Route) 530 is a question that we all have. What's under 530 at this point? So we don't know the number, but we're pretty confident it's lower than (176.) But that's the number that we're working with."
http://mynorthwest.com/11/2481160/Crews-search-through-night-Oso-mudslide-death-toll-14-reports-of-176-missing
Press briefing going on right now:
* 50 National Guard troops to be on the scene shortly.
* No indications of life heard throughout the night.
* Some people have been searching on their own, outside of the system; this is to be discouraged as the ground is still very unstable.
* There are registered volunteers working with the rescue teams. No more volunteers are needed as of this morning.
* Town of Darrington now has 911, internet, and telephone services restored.
* 14 confirmed fatalities, 178 missing is the number we're working with but, that number expected to change.
* Governor has declared State of Emergency.
* Search and Extraction team has been dispatched.
* FEMA is on the scene.
* Secondary access road has been made into town (Darrington) but as it's a mountainous road, it is dangerous.
* It is raining again.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Also, check out this thread:
pre-mudslide picture
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024724584
It has two really good articles from the NYTimes and Seattle Times.
I can't get over how hopeless those searchers must be feeling. So many families still praying for a miracle. 
daughter and fiance are dead - way too sad
but not yet recovered. So 24 dead is the unofficial number of victims.
That Oso fireman's wife's body was found yesterday, the grandma, but their four month old grandbaby is still missing. Relatives were allowed to go in to the area where their home had been, they managed to dig out her crib, but it was empty, also found her blankie buried not far away. Our friends' younger family members have gone down there, approved as volunteers, to look for their brother...several families have done that now, but only a few have actually been successful at finding their loved ones. It is a horrible mess, full of ways to be hurt, both physically and emotionally.
A statement from a woman who went past the police barricade, under threat of arrest, to search for her missing daughter during the first day.
