|
Preparing
for a Landslide
Features
that might be noticed just prior to a landslide:
- springs, seeps, or saturated
ground appears in areas usually not wet.
- new cracks or unusual
bulges in the ground, street pavements, or sidewalks.
- soil moves away from
foundations.
- ancillary structures
(e.g., decks, lanai) tilt or move relative to the house.
- concrete floors or foundations
tilt or crack.
- water lines and other
underground utilities break.
- telephone poles, trees,
retaining walls, or fences tilt.
- road beds sink or drop
down.
Prior
to Intense Storms:
- Become familiar with
the land around you. Learn whether debris flows have occurred in your
area by contacting local officials, State geological surveys or departments
of natural resources, and university departments of geology. Slopes
where debris flows have occurred in the past are likely to experience
them in the future.
- Support your local government
in efforts to develop and enforce land-use and building ordinances
that regulate construction in areas susceptible to landslides and
debris flows. Buildings should be located away from steep slopes,
streams and rivers, intermittent-stream channels, and the mouths of
mountain channels.
- Watch the patterns of
storm-water drainage on slopes near your home, and note especially
the places where runoff water converges, increasing flow over soil-covered
slopes. Watch the hillsides around your home for any signs of land
movement, such as small landslides or debris flows or progressively
tilting trees.
- Contact your local authorities
to learn about the emergency-response and evacuation plans for your
area and develop your own emergency plans for your family and business.
During
Intense Storms:
- Stay alert and stay awake!
Many debris-flow fatalities occur when people are sleeping. Listen
to a radio for warnings of intense rainfall. Be aware that intense
short bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous, especially after
longer periods of heavy rainfall and damp weather.
- If you are in areas susceptible
to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safe to
do so. Remember that driving during an intense storm can itself be
hazardous.
- Listen for any unusual
sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or
boulders knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or
debris may precede larger flows. If you are near a stream or channel,
be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and for
a change from clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide
activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly. Don't delay! Save
yourself, not your belongings.
- Be especially alert when
driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible
to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen
rocks, and other indications of possible debris flows.
What
to do if you suspect imminent landslide danger:
- Contact your local fire,
police or public works department
- Inform affected neighbors
- Evacuate
Information from:
State of California Department of Conservation, Sacramento, CA and National
Landslide Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO
|
