Three-Story Home Left in Pieces by WNC Landslide: Owners Tell Harrowing Story

By Russell Bradley

Published: January 7, 2009

A three story home was destroyed near Maggie Valley early Wednesday after a landslide carried the entire house - including a basement - 300 feet off the side of a mountain onto a road, and the fmaily that lived their is telling their story to News Channel 7.

Haywood County Emergency Management Director Greg Shuping says they had teams in the area, but believe this is an isolated incident caused by hours of heavy rain.

Firefighters got word of the landslide around 1:45am and found the three-story home was destroyed off Wild Cat Run Road. The two people who lived in the home, Bruce and Lorraine Donan, were able to escape. They were treated by emergency workers at the scene and transported to a hospital in Clyde.

Shuping says they are permanent residents in an area that contains many summer vacation homes.

“At first, I thought a piece of the roof just caved in on me.  I didn’t realize the whole house had disentegrated,“ said Bruce Donan who told us he and his wife were forced to free themselves in the dark and flag down a couple on the road to get help.

Listen to the rest of their story by going to the Video link.