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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandslide Safety Checklist.pdfLayout 1 Gather supplies in case you need to evacuate: •Water—a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day • Food—a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food • Flashlight • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAAWeather Radio, if possible) • Extra batteries • First aid kit • Medications (7-day supply) and medical items • Multi-purpose tool • Sanitation and personal hygiene items • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies) • Cell phone with chargers • Family and emergency contact information • Extra cash • Other essential items that could not be replaced if they were destroyed Landslides generally happen in areas where they have occurred in the past. Learn about your area’s landslide risk. Landslides can also be referred to as mudslides, debris flows, mudflows or debris avalanches. Learn about local emergency response and evacuation plans. Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a landslide occurs. Create and practice an evacuation plan for your family and your business. Assemble and maintain an emergency preparedness kit. Become familiarwith the land aroundwhere you live andwork so that you understand your risk in different situations. Watch the patterns of stormwater drainage on slopes near your home, especially where runoff water converges. Debris flows and other landslides onto roadways are common during rainstorms. Heavily saturated ground is very susceptible to mudflows and debris flows. Be aware that, generally, landslide insurance is not available, but that debris flow damage may be covered by flood insurance policies fromthe National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at www.FloodSmart.gov. If you suspect imminent danger, evacuate immediately. Inform affected neighbors if you can, and contact your public works, fire or police department. Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and notice whether the water changes from clear to muddy. Such changes may mean there is debris flow activity upstream so be prepared to move quickly. Be especially alert when driving— watch for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks and other indications of possible debris flow. If you are ordered or decide to evacuate, take your animals with you. Consider a precautionary evacuation of large or numerous animals as soon as you are aware of impending danger. During Severe Storms Stay alert and awake. Many deaths from landslides occur while people are sleeping. Listen to local news stations on a battery-powered radio for warnings of heavy rainfall. Consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Stay away from the slide area until local officials say it is safe to enter. Listen to local stations on a portable, battery-powered radio for the latest emergency information. Watch for flooding—floods sometimes follow landslides and debris flows. Check for injured and trapped persons and animals near the slide, without entering the slide area. Help people who require special assistance. Look for and report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities. Check your home’s foundation, chimney and surrounding land for damage. Replant damaged ground as soon as possible because erosion caused by loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding. Let Your Family Know You’re Safe If your community has experienced a disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe andWellWeb site available through RedCross.org/SafeandWell to let your family and friends know about your welfare. If you don’t have Internet access, call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family. BeRedCrossReady Landslide Safety Checklist What should I do if I live in an area at risk fromlandslides? What should I do if a landslide is occurring or likely to occur? What should I do after a landslide? Landslides have occurred in almost every state and can cause significant damage. The term landslide describes downhill earthmovements that canmove slowly and cause damage gradually, ormove rapidly, destroying property and taking lives suddenly and unexpectedly.Most landslides are caused by natural forces or events, such as heavy rain and snowmelt, earthquake shaking, volcanic eruptions and gravity. Landslides are typically associated with periods of heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt and tend to worsen the effects of flooding. Areas burned by forest and brush fires are also particularly susceptible to landslides. For more information on disaster and emergency preparedness, visit RedCross.org. Copyright © 2009 by the American National Red Cross | Stock No. 658550 1/10