Landslide Hazards

1

• Landslide Hazards
• A National Issue

Paula Gori, U. S. Geological Survey Assistant
Coordinator, Landslide Hazards Program Reston,
Virginia
2
Property loss grows annually

• Some of the most costly landslides in the US have
  been during El Nino related storms in 1883-84 and
  1998.
• The Nisqually earthquake in Seattle in 2000
  caused 30 mil. in damage from landslides.

3
Landslides result in deaths and injuries

• A massive landslide in 1985 in Puerto Rico killed
  129 people.
• Many of the deaths resulting from Hurricane
  Camille in 1969 were caused by debris flows.

4
The presentation will address

• The roles of Federal, State, and Local
  governments and the private sector in reducing
  losses from landslides.
• The American Planning/USGS project to increase
  aware and understand of landslide hazards by the
  planning community.

5
The presentation will address (cont.)

• The resources that land-use planners can utilize
  now to reduce landslide hazards.
• The plans for next years APA conference in
  Denver, Colorado, on landslide hazards.

6
Landslide Hazards are a National Issue

• Because landslide hazards cross many
  jurisdictional lines, no single state or local
  jurisdiction can muster the resources necessary
  to deal with landslide hazards.
• Because landslide hazards, like earthquakes and
  volcanoes, occur infrequently and are costly to
  mitigate.

7
The U.S. Geological Surveys Role

• The USGS is responsible for providing impartial
  earth science information to public officials and
  others.
• The Stafford Act (1974 Disaster Relief Act) gives
  the USGS the responsibility to issue disaster
  warnings.
• The USGS is the recognized authority on landslide
  hazards in the U.S.

8
The Federal Role Focuses on

• Research
• Training
• Information Dissemination
• Regional Assessments
• Development of new technology and methodology,
  and modeling
• Warning and Prediction

9
The USGS Landslide Hazards Program

• Investigates landslide hazards caused by
  earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods and
  wildfires.
• Characterizes landslide processes.
• Monitors and forecasts potential landslides.
• Responds to landslide emergencies and disaster
  nationwide and internationally.
• Provides timely information through the National
  Landslide Information Center.

10
The Role of FEMA

• Responsible for emergency management and
  long-term mitigation of natural hazards including
  landslides.
• Coordinates emergency response, disaster
  recovery, and hazard mitigation efforts.
• Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration
  provides insurance coverage for flood damages
  including mudslides.

11
The Roles of Other Federal Agencies

• The National Science Foundation and the NASA fund
  landslide hazard research through universities.
• The National Weather Service provides weather
  forecasts and assists in emergency response
  activities.

12
The Role of Other Federal Agencies (cont.)

• The following agencies manage large land holdings
  and infrastructure and play a role in landslide
  hazard reduction
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Forest Service
• National Park Service
• Department of Transportation
• Bureau of Reclamation

13
The Role of the States

• States vary in their approach to managing
  landslide hazards--Only a few states have
  regulatory authority for landslide hazards.
• Some state geological surveys produce inventories
  and maps of landslides and landslide-prone areas.
• Some states also monitor landslide-prone areas
  and support research.
• States support response and recovery efforts
  following landslides.

14
The Role of Local Governments

• The reduction of landslide losses through sound
  land-use planning and building, grading and
  zoning codes is a local government
  responsibility.
• Regulatory approaches vary widely.
• In times of disaster, local governments have the
  responsibility for issuing landslide warnings and
  managing the emergency response unless it
  declared a a state or national emergency.

15
The Role of the Private Sector

• Private sector geologists, planners, and
  engineers work mainly as consultants for both
  local governments and private property owners by
  investigating landslide hazard areas and
  recommending hazard reduction measures.
• Faculty and researchers at universities conduct
  research on landslide processes, develop
  monitoring and mitigation techniques and advance
  scientific methods to understand the hazard.

16
The Role of Professional Societies

• Serve as conduits of information between
  researchers and practitioners.
• Promote best practices, model codes, guidebooks
  and training.
• The APA, American Society of Engineers, and
  Association of Engineering Geologists serve these
  functions for landslide hazard issues.

17
Landslide Hazards and Planning Project

• The main goal of the USGS/APA project is to
  educate the planning community on landslide
  hazards and how to reduce their impacts on
  communities and individuals.

18
USGS/APA Project Outcomes

• The USGS and the APA will publish a practical
  guidebook for planners entitled Landslide
  Hazards and Planning in the spring of 2003.
• The two organizations are also collaborating on
  training and workshops for local planners and
  curriculum for planning schools.
• APA maintains a web site on landslide hazards
  http//planning.org/landslide.

www.planning.org/Landslides
19
Other Products and Activities

• APA maintains an electronic mailing list of
  interested planners
• http//list.planning.org/mailman/listinfo/landslid
  es-1
• Referral service
• APA member newsletters, journals articles and
  CD-ROMs

www.planning.org/Landslides
20
Guidebook Contents

• Overview of landslide hazards in the US
• Incorporating landslide issues into the planning
  process
• Regulatory Tools
• Case Studies
• GIS Tools
• Recommendations
• Appendices Model Ordinances

21
Available Resources for Planners

• State Geological Surveys
• National Landslide Information Center at
• www.landslides.usgs.gov
• University planning, geology and engineering
  departments

www.landslides.usgs.gov
22
Planning for 2003 APA Conference

• Roll out of the Handbook.
• Session on experiences with landslide hazard
  planning and disasters.
• Session for Federal government planners.
• GIS and computer-based training.
• Mobile workshops to landslides near Denver.