A geologist and landslide consultant says the chance of a sudden, catastrophic slope failure on East Gros Ventre Butte in Jackson is only about 5 percent. As a result, town emergency services have downgraded their evacuation order, allowing most businesses in the Hillside building to reopen this morning. Some businesses and many residences remain under an evacuation order.
At a community meeting last night, Acting Chief of Police Cole Nethercott asked residents not to take unnecessary risks by entering the evacuation area on their own.
"We're currently providing escorts up there, and we would ask you to go with our escorts because we're trying to keep accountability as to who is up there," Nethercott said.
Town officials say they need more time to monitor the slope and devise a plan to stabilize it.