Searchers retrieved one body from the massive, deadly Sitka mudslide and two remain missing on Thursday as searchers continue to work through the debris.

25-year-old Ulises Diaz and 26-year-old Elmer Diaz, two men working on a house in the path of the slide, and a city building inspector, 61-year-old William Stortz, remain missing.

Ulises, and his brother, Elmer, were painting on the structure when the slide occurred, Stortz was at the location assessing the drainage system.

Governor Walker traveled to Sitka on Wednesday to assess the damage done by the six landslides that occurred there and the flooding from the five inches of rain that fell there in a 24-hour period this week. Walker observed the damage from a Coast Guard helicopter, as well as on the ground.

While in Sitka, the governor spent time with the families of the missing brothers as well as the family of Stortz.

Governor Walker also met with local officials to determine how the state could best assist the community in its relief efforts. He assured Senator Stedman and Mayor McConnell that the city’s disaster declaration would be addressed quickly, and that the state would dispatch the necessary personnel to support Sitka’s recovery efforts.

“I have asked my Disaster Policy Cabinet to review Sitka’s disaster declaration request as soon as possible, and provide the necessary resources to help the community respond and rebuild,” Governor Walker said. “As Alaskans, we pull together in times of hardship and tragedy. I am confident that residents of Sitka, and the people of Alaska, will pull together to get through this tragedy, and I am fully committed to help in any way I can.”

The families of the missing men are still holding out hope that the three men will be found alive.

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  elmer diaz, flooding, governor, landslides, missing, search, sinkholes, sitka, slides, ulises, victims, walker, william stortz