Answer:
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.
Areas that are generally prone to landslide hazards
•On existing old landslides.
•On or at the base of slopes.
In or at the base of minor drainage hollows.
•At the base or top of an old fill slope.
•At the base or top of a steep cut slope.
•Developed hillsides where leach field septic systems are used.
•Areas that are typically considered safe from landslides
•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.
What To Do Before a Landslide
•Do not build near steep slopes, close to mountain edges, near drainage ways, or natural erosion valleys.
•Get a ground assessment of your property.
•Contact local officials, state geological surveys or departments of natural resources, and university departments of geology. Landslides occur where they have before, and in identifiable hazard locations. Ask for information on landslides in your area, specific information on areas vulnerable to landslides, and request a professional referral for a very detailed site analysis of your property, and corrective measures you can take, if necessary.
•Watch the patterns of storm-water drainage near your home, and note the places where runoff water converges, increasing flow in channels. These are areas to avoid during a storm.
•Learn about the emergency-response and evacuation plans for your area. Develop your own emergency plan for your family or business.
•Minimize home hazards:
•Have flexible pipe fittings installed to avoid gas or water leaks, as flexible fittings are more resistant to breakage (only the gas company or professionals should install gas fittings).
•Plant ground cover on slopes and build retaining walls.
In mudflow areas, build channels or deflection walls to direct the flow around buildings. Remember: If you build walls to divert debris flow and the flow lands on a neighbor's property, you may be liable for damages.
Explanation:
There are also various direct methods of preventing landslides; these include modifying slope geometry, using chemical agents to reinforce slope material, installing structures such as piles and retaining walls, grouting rock joints and fissures, diverting debris pathways, and rerouting surface and underwater drainage.
