How to Survive a Landslide
Winter is coming, and in the western states, it’s not just snow, skis, and hot toys. Some Left Coasters are preparing forterrifying landslides that can sweep or destroy buildings, vehicles and people.
Surprisingly, you can increase your chances of surviving a landslide by following a few simple steps. According to a recent University of Washington study , humans tend to survive landslides less than 0.9 meters deep and rarely survive those more than 5.9 meters. However, at a distance of 1 to 6 meters, survival seemed to depend on previous planning and ingenuity. For example, if you just rush upstairs, your chances of survival will increase 12 times.
Know if you are in a landslide area
Record wildfires burned 33,000 square kilometers last summer, the equivalent of three Yellowstone National Parks and two Yosemites. Where the fires erupted most, they burned trees and other vegetation to their roots, leaving ash heaps and damaged soil. After heavy rains, these parched soils can turn into rapid andextremely dangerous landslides . The US Geological Survey has released a handy landslide risk map that shows which mountain slopes are most likely to give way.
If you live downhill from a high-risk area, be prepared. Emergency services can alert you to evacuate before a violent storm, and you should do so. But what if for some reason you haven’t evacuated? There you are in bed; you hear branches crack and rumbling like a freight train. Don’t just lie there! Move.
What to do before a landslide
Learn about landslides; talk to people who have experienced them; and make plans.
Move the bedroom up and down the house. If a landslide drives up to your house in the middle of the night, debris will knock out windows and doors on the rise. At a minimum, move the beds away from the outside walls.
Identify and prepare a small interior unfurnished room: toilets, bathrooms, and other small spaces are less likely to collapse. Remove furniture that might crush you. One survivor of the landslide dived into a closet and survived for almost 5 hours under 9-meter debris.
During the landslide
Be attentive to thesounds of a landslide , such as the crash or crackling of branches and trees. You may have 40 to 60 seconds before it arrives.
Run away! Whether you run to the second floor, onto the rooftop, or even just jump onto the counter in the kitchen, climbing significantly reduces the risk of death. Those on the top floor, attic or rooftop survive 95% of the time. And, as we said, climbing stairs increases survival by a factor of 12.
Take cover in this closet.
Since doors usually open inward, a landslide descending from a hill pushes the doors and quickly covers the building with mud and boulders, choking on the inside or blowing up the building. If you have time , open doors or windows downhill to allow dirt to drain back.
Meanwhile, here’s what you can’t do:
- Don’t go outside.
- Don’t open the door out of curiosity.
- Don’t hide by a piano or other large furniture; he could crush or strike with lethal force.
After it’s over
Once the landslide stops, you may be trapped in a pile of mud, under rubble, in a small room, or on an upper floor. In two large landslides in the University of Washington study, nearly half were killed, 28% were rescued on their own, and 20% were rescued. You want to be the one who does it. But of those who were rescued, only 11% were found by the first responders. At best, first responders may take some time to arrive; in the worst case, blocked roads can prevent emergency vehicles from arriving altogether.
Your neighbors are your best bet. Of the people who were rescued, 77% were found for the first time by neighbors, usually in just a few minutes. Time is of the essence. If you are trapped, you could be seriously injured and risk suffocating from pressure on your chest or lack of air in a small space. Swing objects and make noise to grab attention and find you. Shout, whistle, or bang on debris. The neighbors will do their best to help, but you may have to wait until the first responders can get you out. Do not give up.