| CNN | - |
(CNN)
-- Avalanches have blocked the only highway to Valdez, Alaska, cutting
off all motor traffic to the coastal town of about 4,000 and leading
town officials to urge voluntary evacuations of residences.
Avalanches cut road travel to Valdez, Alaska
updated 7:30 AM EST, Mon January 27, 2014
Avalanches at Snow Slide Gulch in Keystone Canyon in Alaska have closed a portion of Richardson Highway.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Officials urge evacuations after only highway is shut down
- Water has begun to accumulate behind the snow and debris created by the avalanches
- The Richardson Highway is expected to remain closed for about a week
- A shelter has been established in a high school and teen center for people who evacuated
The Richardson Highway will probably remain closed for about a week, officials said on the town website. The first avalanches started Friday, and more occurred Saturday.
Valdez officials urged
voluntary evacuations over the weekend because water started to
accumulate behind the snow and debris created by the avalanches.
A shelter was established
in the high school and teen center for people who evacuated. It's
unknown how many people moved out of their houses.
According to the town
website, Valdez has plenty of fuel on hand, but food and fuel can be
brought to the town port by barge if necessary.
Valdez is about a 300-mile drive from Anchorage, Alaska's largest city.
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