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| Home > Fact
of the Week 2011 > Lanslides |
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3-07-2011
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Services Specialist -
Kings County Office of Emergency Management |
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Foreward By Elizabeth Hall
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Landslides
may not be a common occurrence
in Kings County,
but we have had some minor
landslides/mudslides not too
far from home. Even though
they are not common to our
area, you may need this information
should you travel in or around
areas that are prone to such
disasters.
Landslides commonly occur in
connection with other major
natural disasters such as earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, wildfires
and floods; however, landslides
can also be caused by normal,
seasonal rainfall or erosion.
Expansion of residential and
recreational developments into
hillside areas leads to more
people that are threatened
by landslides each year.
USGS
Publication 1325 | USGS
Publication 1244 |
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Landslide
Warning Signs
- Springs,
seeps, or saturated ground in areas
that have not typically been wet
before.
- New
cracks or unusual bulges in the
ground, street pavements or sidewalks.
- Soil
moving away from foundations.
- Ancillary
structures such as decks and patios
tilting and/or moving relative
to the main house.
- Tilting
or cracking of concrete floors
and foundations.
- Broken
water lines and other underground
utilities.
- Leaning
telephone poles, trees, retaining
walls or fences.
- Offset
fence lines.
- Sunken
or down-dropped road beds.
- Rapid
increase in creek water levels,
possibly accompanied by increased
turbidity (soil content).
- Sudden
decrease in creek water levels
though rain is still falling or
just recently stopped.
- Sticking
doors and windows, and visible
open spaces indicating jambs and
frames out of plumb.
- A
faint rumbling sound that increases
in volume is noticeable as the
landslide nears.
- Unusual
sounds, such as trees cracking
or boulders knocking together,
might indicate moving debris.
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Areas
that are generally prone to
landslide hazards |
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On
existing old landslides.
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On
or at the base of slopes.
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In
or at the base of minor
drainage hollows.
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At
the base or top of an
old fill slope.
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At
the base or top of a
steep cut slope.
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Developed
hillsides where leach
field septic systems
are used
Areas
that are typically considered
safe from landslides
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Areas
that are typically considered
safe from landslides |
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- On
hard, non-jointed bedrock
that has not moved in the
past.
- On
relatively flat-lying areas
away from sudden changes
in slope angle.
- At
the top or along the nose
of ridges, set back from
the tops of slopes.
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Preparing
for Landslides
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Before
the Landslide
You
can reduce the potential impacts
of land movement by taking steps
to remove yourself from harm's
way:
- Assume
that burn areas and canyon,
hillside, mountain and other
steep areas are vulnerable
to landslides and mudslides.
- Build
away from steep slopes.
- Build
away from the bottoms or
mouths of steep ravines and
drainage facilities.
- Consult
with a soil engineer or an
engineering geologist to
minimize the potential impacts
of landslides.
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Develop
a family plan that includes:
- Out-of-state
contact
- Place
to reunite if family members
are separated
- Routes
to evacuate
- Locations
of utility shut-offs
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Store
the following emergency supplies:
- Food
- Water
- First
aid kit
- Flashlights
and batteries
- Battery-operated
radios
- Special
medications/eye care products
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Store
an evacuation kit that includes:
- Cash
(small bills and change)
- Important
documents (Birth certificates,
insurance policies, marriage
certificates, mortgage
documents)
- Irreplaceable
objects
- Games,
toys for children
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Purchase
supplies to protect your home:
- Hammer
- Nails
- Plywood
- Rain
gauge
- Sand
- Sandbags
- Shovel
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Property
Preparedness
- Limit
the height of plants near
buildings to 18 inches.
- Use
fire-retardant plants and
bushes to replace chaparral
and highly combustible
vegetation.
- Water
landscape to promote early
growth.
- Eliminate
litter and dead and dry
vegetation.
- Inspect
slopes for increases in
cracks, holes and other
changes.
- Contact
your local public works
department for information
on protection measures.
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When
it Rains
Monitor
the amount of rain during
intense storms.
More than three to four inches of rain per day, or 1/2-inch per
hour,
have been known to trigger mudslides.
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Look
for geological changes near
your home:
- New
springs
- Cracked
snow, ice, soil or rocks
- Bulging
slopes
- New
holes or bare spots on
hillsides
- Tilted
trees
- Muddy
waters
Listen
to the radio or watch television
for information and instructions
from local officials. Prepare to evacuate if requested to do so.
Respect the power of the potential mudslide. Remember, mudslides
move quickly, can cause damage and kill.
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Prioritize
protection measures:
- Make
your health and safety
and that of family members
the number one priority.
- Make
your home the number two
priority.
- Make
pools, spas, patios and
other elements the next
priority.
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Implement
protection measures when necessary:
- Place
sandbags
- Board
up windows and doors
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Statement
from the California Emergency
Management Agency
Emergency
preparedness means being
prepared for all kinds
of emergencies, able
to respond in time of
crisis to save lives
and property, to help
a community or even
the nation return to
normal
life after a disaster,
and ensuring that the
environment is protected.
The potential for a
catastrophic event impacting
California,
the most populous state
in the nation with
an estimated population
of 38 million in 2008,
is something that requires
this
all hazards approach.
The
information available
within the “Threats
and Hazards” portion
of the Planning and Preparedness
Division web site is
intended to provide preliminary
information on potential
hazards that may impact
the citizenry. The information
provided will include
preparedness tips and
or guidance on how to
be ready for these hazards
and vulnerabilities should
they impact the State.
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Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Have
a great week, and remember…… Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Office of Emergency Management
280 Campus Drive Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3211, Ext. 2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
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