Darrington, Washington (CNN) — Brenda Neal was still at the firehouse at midnight, watching as rescuers caked with mud returned from the search for survivors of a massive landslide in rural Washington state.

But they had no answers for her about her missing husband, Steven.  There was despair on their faces, she said.

Rescuers on Tuesday continued to battle mud and debris — with the consistency of quicksand in some places — in the search for survivors, but hopes dimmed as no one has been rescued since the slide Saturday.

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The death toll stood at 14, with 176 others unaccounted for or missing. Officials have stressed those unaccounted for are not necessarily all victims of the disaster. They say they believe many names are duplicated.

Steven Neal’s family holds out hope, despite discouraging signs.

Neal is a plumber who was on a service call in the area where the landslide hit.  (read more)