Land and Mud Slide: Necessary Citizen Response

Landslides can be devastating and citizens should be prepared if they are in a landslide-prone area. Successful response comes from careful planning, vigilant watch and correct response during the disaster.

How to Prepare

Develop landslide-specific planning for your family by learning about landslide risk in your area. Specific information can be found from local officials, state geological surveys or departments of natural resources, and university departments of geology. Remember that landslides tend to occur where they have before.

Once you have determined if you are in a risk area, talk to your insurance agent. Debris flow may be covered by flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in the United States. Talk to a professional geotechnical expert and get a ground assessment of your property before acting. Once you do so, you might want to plant ground cover (low growing plants) on slopes or install flexible pipe fitting to avoid gas or water leaks.

Next, develop an evacuation plan that includes where you would go if you have to leave. As always, we believe in education and knowledge. Discuss what you have learned with your family so everyone knows how to respond during a landslide or mudflow and panic is minimized even if the whole family isn’t together at the time of the disaster.

Also, prepare a disaster kit. This kit should at least include personal medications, first aid kit, car keys, maps, a battery-operated radio and extra batteries and important personal documents.

During a Landslide

Before intense storms, watch the hillsides around your home for any signs of land movement such as tilting trees.

During a landslide, you should stay alert and awake by listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or battery-powered radio - many casualties occur when people are sleeping. Consider leaving if it is safe to do so as driving can be dangerous. Move to higher parts of the house (perhaps a second story) if you stay at home. Remember to listen to unusual sounds such as trees cracking that might indicate debris moving. If you are near a stream or channel, be aware of sudden changes in water flow or from clear to muddy water. If you sense these sudden changes, move quickly and do not delay in saving your belongings.

Contact your local police or fire department and inform your neighbors of the potential danger as they may not be aware of it.

After the Landslide

Stay away from the area as additional slides often occur. Direct rescuers to locations of trapped persons near the slide but do not enter the direct slide area yourself. Keep informed by listening to the local radio or television. Additionally, report any hazards such as broken power lines. Finally, be sure to consult a geotechnical expert on reducing further hazards.

Sources Consulted

Sources