There are many landslides causes that affect the stability of slopes, such as heavy rainfall, a natural disaster or human activity (mining or extreme timber harvesting).
When the ground beneath a mountain or hill is unstable, it begins to slide down the slope. These landslides can cause severe damage to property or lives, and they can be small or large.
Despite the many causes of landslides there are things you can do to protect your family and yourself against any potential dangers. It is a good idea, to create an emergency evacuation plan for your family and to sign up for the local alert system.
Learn if landslides have occurred previously in your area by contacting local authorities, a county geologist or the county planning department, state geological surveys or departments of natural resources or university departments of geology.
Be aware of landslide warning signs such as rushing water, mud or unusual sounds. These signs indicate that the landslide may be approaching.
Look for trees that have moved or are falling or boulders knocking together. Be aware of any fences, retaining walls or utility poles that are also moving.
You need to know the difference between an landslide (fast-moving, destructive landslides) and a "mudslide".
Explain to your children that a landslide occurs when a mass of soil or rock falls down a slope. A mudslide is, on the contrary, when a lot water falls down a slope because of a storm or thaw.
Both types are possible in different locations around the world. Landslides are one of the most common natural disasters in the world.
Landslides can be triggered by weather factors such as rain, earthquakes and volcanoes. However, they can also occur due to natural disasters, such as wildfires.
To prevent landslides, it is crucial to develop and maintain a well organized landslide management system. This plan should include creating a local evacuation and communications plan, and a list of what to do in the event of a landslide.
Consider the potential consequences of a natural disaster on your home. This is especially true if you have a basement, or a slope nearby. Also, it is a good idea check your house's safety measures such as an alarm or a stairwell.
Some landslides move very slowly, moving only a few feet per year. While others move fast at speeds of 200 miles per hour, some are extremely slow. Some can burrow people and cause destruction to their homes.
Keep an eye out for potential landslide/mudslide dangers near your home by listening to the rushing water and watching for any moving debris (e.g. fences or retaining walls) and signing up at a local landslide alert.
Practicing these steps will help to reduce the risk of a landslide occurring in your community, so you should do it every chance you get. Planting trees on slopes susceptible to landslides is a smart idea. Trees have roots deep enough to bind the soil, and lessen the possibility of water getting in.
FAQ
How to Navigate With or Without a Compass?
Although it doesn't give you a map of where you are heading, a compass can help you navigate back home if your bearings have been lost.
Three different ways you can navigate are available:
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By landmarks
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By magnetic North (using an compass).
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By stars
Landmarks are objects that you can recognize when they appear. They can include buildings, trees, rivers, and others. Because they give you a visual clue about where you are, landmarks are very useful.
Magnetic North is simply the direction in which the Earth's magnetic field points. If you look at the sky, the sun appears like it's moving across the sky. However, the earth's magnet field causes the sun to move about the earth. While it may appear that the sun moves across the sky, in fact, the sun actually moves around its horizon. At noon the sun is directly overhead. At midnight, the sun will be directly below you. The magnetic field on the earth changes daily, so the direction of the North pole's magnetic North pole can change every day. This means that your course could drift a lot in a single day.
Another way to navigate is with stars. Stars appear to rise and set over the horizon. These are points in space you can use to find your exact location relative to other locations.
What should be your first instinct in a survival situation
Assess the situation immediately you are faced with an emergency. It is essential to understand what is going on around you, where you are, and how you got there.
Also, you need to be aware of what your environment can offer. You may not be capable of using any communication methods if your environment is remote.
If you don’t know what you are doing, you should start learning as quickly as you can.
It is best to seek immediate help if you are in danger. But if you're not in immediate danger, it might be worth taking some time to gather information to determine what happened.
What are your options in a survival situation
It's impossible to spend too much time thinking about what you should say next. It is important to be ready for any eventuality. You need to know how you will react to an unexpected problem.
It is important to be flexible and willing to learn if you find yourself in an unfamiliar situation.
If you are in a survival situation, you will likely encounter problems such:
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Finding yourself in remote places
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Getting lost
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Limited food supplies
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Running out of water
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Facing hostile people
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Facing wild animals
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Finding shelter
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Predators being fought
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Setting fire to
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Using tools
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Building shelters
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Hunting
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* Fishing
Statistics
- so you can be 100 percent hands-free, and there's less chance you'll put your torch down and lose it. (nymag.com)
- The downside to this type of shelter is that it does not generally offer 360 degrees of protection and unless you are diligent in your build or have some kind of tarp or trash bags, it will likely not be very resistant to water. (hiconsumption.com)
- In November of 1755, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum intensity of VIII occurred about 50 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. (usgs.gov)
- The Dyrt PRO gives 40% campground discounts across the country (thedyrt.com)
External Links
How To
How to Purify Drink Water in Emergencies
In times of natural disasters, drinking water purification is one of the most critical activities. Purifying drinking water requires filtering, disinfection, as well as storage. Clean water has been a lifesaver during emergency situations. It is also a faster way to recover from disasters.
Purified water must be kept out of direct sunlight and stored correctly. Purified water should be stored in a container that does not contain oxygen. If you do not have enough containers, use plastic bags or bottles. Keep the water chilled at 4°C (40°F). Avoid freezing the water to prevent ice crystals from forming.
These steps will help you prepare purified drinking water.
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Boil water until it boils dry. Remove any remaining impurities by pouring the boiling water through a strainer.
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For every 2 Gallons of water, add one teaspoon of Iodine. Before adding the iodine, stir well.
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The water should be kept in an airtight container. Keep the water in the container for no more than 3 days.
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Label the container with the date, type of water, and amount of water.
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Be sure to ensure safe water supply!