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Landslides / Mudslides

Compiled by Dick Oakes
www.phantomranch.NET

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Landslides

Landslides and mudslides occur in all states and territories, and can be caused by a variety of factors including earthquakes, storms, and fires. Areas that are not coverd by vegetation, especially following a fire, are more likely to have landslides or mudslides. This includes sliding, falling, and flowing soil, rock, mud, brush, and trees, particularly during or after heavy rains. Landslides can occur quickly, often with little notice. Slow-moving landslides can cause significant property damage, but they usually do not cause injury or death.

Mudslides

Mudslides are much more dangerous than landslides. Mudslides can easily exceed speeds of ten miles per hour and often flow at rates of more than twenty miles per hour. Because mudslides travel much faster than landslides, they can cause deaths, injuries, and significant property damage. Mudslides can occur quickly, often with little notice, and the best way to prepare is to stay informed about changes in and around your home that could signal that a landslide mudslide is likely to occur.

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Prepare for Landslides / Mudslides

• Follow proper land-use procedures--avoid building near steep slopes or along natural erosion valleys.
• Become familiar with the land around you.
• Learn whether debris flows have occurred in your area by contacting local officials.
• Slopes where debris flows have occurred in the past are likely to experience them in the future.
• Look for changes in landscape and water drainage, or new cracks in foundations and sidewalks.
• Watch the patterns of storm-water drainage on slopes near your home or business, and note especially the places where runoff water converges, increasing flow over soil-covered slopes.
• Watch the hillsides around your home or business for signs of land movement, such as small landslides or debris flows or progressively titling trees.

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Consult a Professional

• Consult a professional for advice on appropriate preventative measures for your home or business, such as flexible pipefittings, which can better resist breakage.

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