1) What is the earliest landslide on record in western North Carolina?

There is historical documentation of landslides in 1876 on the southwest side of Fishhawk Mountain south of Franklin, NC in Macon County.

2) What are the real costs to the landowners and taxpayers when landslides occur?

• 48 people have been killed by landslides since 1916.
• Over 65 homes and 20 other structures have been damaged or destroyed by landslides.
• $1.3 million tax payer dollars to clean up after Peeks Creek landslide in 2004
• $3.2 million tax payer dollars to buy out the residents of Peeks Creek landslide in 2004
• $1.4 million tax payer dollars to clean up and stabilize the Ghost Town landslide in 2010
• October 10, 2009 I-40 rockslide direct contract costs $10.2 million. Costs to transportation were $174.9 million (HDR, May 2010, “Economic Impact of Rockslides in TN and NC” for Appalachian Regional Commission)
• July 1997 I-40 rockslide direct contract costs for repair $4.8 million (from WNC vitality index, see 4c below)
• The costs to stabilize a typical roadway fill slope failure can be around $50,000.Landslide insurance is not available in WNC, so the costs of clean up and repair fall on the land owner or home owners association for private roads.