Guide in pdf format

Landslides/Mudslidess

REMEMBER THAT…

Land slides intensify the consequences of floods, which are the result of heavy rainfalls or melting of big quantities of snow.

They occur especially in sides with steep sloping that have being laid bare by fires.

  BEFORE A HEAVY RAINFALL

• Be familiar with the land surrounding you. Try to find out if there were landslides or mud flows in the region by asking local authorities, people living there before you as well as the competent geological services or university sections. The sides where landslides have occurred are likely to face the same phenomena in the future.
• Help local authorities in their efforts to specify the land usage and fix the appropriate building specifications in areas that run the risk by landslide. The buildings must be built away from steep slopes, streams, rivers and their estuary.
• Take notice of the characteristics of the hydrographic network in your area and especially the places where the run off of the water converges, increasing the flow on sides covered by ground. Observe the hills and sides around you searching for indications of land movements, such as landslides, mud flows, fragments’ flow or gradual bending of the trees.
• Communicate with local authorities to learn how to face an emergency and the evacuation plans in your area, if such plans have already been elaborated. Develop your own emergency plan for your family and your enterprise.

DURING A HEAVY RAIN FALL

• Stay awake and always be on the alert. Many deaths have occurred by landslides when people were asleep.
• Listen to the radio for warnings relative to the phenomenon of heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfalls of short duration may be extremely dangerous especially after periods of prolonged rainfalls and humidity.
• Watch out for strange noises speculating land movements. Such noises may come from trees snapped or breaking rocks. An initial noise from mud flow or rocks tumbling may be preceded by a huge landslide.
• If you are near a stream, be on the alert for any sudden increase or reduction in the flow of the water and an eventual change of its clarity. Such changes may indicate an activation of fragments flow or landslides from higher areas.
• If you are in areas where there is danger of landslides and mud flow, get informed of the possible ways of escape, in order to use them when needed. Remember that driving during a heavy rainfall is very dangerous.
• Be prepared to move quickly. Do not waste time. Give priority to save yourself and not your belongings.
• Be on the alert when driving. Roadsides are particularly sensitive to landslides. Watch carefully when driving for possible landslides, collapse, mud, falling rocks and other signs of possible fall of fragments.
• If you cannot move away, move to a higher floor of the building.