Document+on+Landslides

__ Table of contents __ __ Page 1 __ Table of contents __ Page 2 __ Landslide intro, Protection against Landslides __ Page 3 __ Areas at risk, Major mudslides of 2010, Mudslide safety __ Page 4 __ Landslide types, Immediate response, Recovery __ Page 5 __ Conclusion, Sources __ Page 6 __ Glossary

__ Oliver George’s report on __ Landslides

A landslide is when a huge mass of dirt, soil and sometimes steaming hot liquid rushes down a steep slope or mountain and anything in its way get s crushed or picked up and pulled apart by friction. They are caused by huge amounts of rain and storms on a mountain or slope. Sometimes they are caused by **ground water** leaking through cracked or worn **bedrock** that pushes up all the soil and debris. Other times they can be caused by human activities (deforestation, oil mining, and so on…) and recent earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

Protection against Landslides
Before intense rainfall or storms, a person should check whether their area has suffered any mudslides in the past, and if the government leaders have any evacuation or emergency plans. Families or couples should also consider making their own emergency plan, and maybe leaving the area if a mudslide is likely to occur there. During intense rainfall or storms one should listen to weather warnings on the radio, look for tilted trees or posts, and listen for rumbling sounds as this may alert you to when a mudslide is approaching. If you see a small trickle of mud one should move away from it as quickly as possible, as it may result in a larger flow. Finally, if you do see a mudslide racing towards you, you should get to high ground and out of its path. If this is impossible, then you should attempt to shelter under some heavy furniture, such as; a desk, or a table. After a mudslide has occurred one should check for injured people, and once this has been done stay away from the site. Also one should listen to advice on the radio, or on the TV and check whether any utility lines or cabling are broken, if they are they should be reported immediately.

In South America, there was a city called Vargas. In 1999, there were a series of hugemudslides.This is what happened.
==The 1999 ‘Vargas tragedy’ was a disaster that struck the Vargas State of Venezuela in December 1999, when the torrential rains and the flash floods and debris flows that followed on 14–16 December killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and led to the complete collapse of the state's infrastructure. According to relief workers, the neighborhood of Los Corales was buried under three meters (9.8 feet) of mud debris and a high percentage of homes were simply swept away to the ocean. Whole towns like Cerro Grande and Carmen de Uria completely disappeared. As much as 10% of the population of Vargas perished during this event. == This was because the population of Vargas was unprepared for the event of a mudslide. This makes leading scientists and storywriters believe that people can learn from a **tragedy** like this. The message, some people say, is __always be prepared__. To protect against mudslides, if you live in a mudslide prone area, during a big storm, stay awake and alert and get to the highest level of your house. Sometimes mudslides trigger **flash floods** by falling off natural reservoirs. The areas most generally recognised as being at risk of a dangerous mudslide are: •Areas where wildfires or human **modification** of the land have destroyed **vegetation** •Areas where landslides have occurred before •Steep slopes and areas at the bottom of slopes or **canyons** •Slopes that have been altered for construction of buildings and roads •Channels along a stream or river •Areas where surface runoff is directed
 * Areas at Risk **

Aug. 6: Unexpected storms triggered mudslides in Kashmir's Leh region, killing more than 166 people.
==Sept. 2-5: Three days of huge rains set off scores of landslides across Guatemala killing at least 45 civilians and rescuers, affecting some 50,000 people. == People probably use digging machinery and shovels to excavate people from the mass of dirt and mud. People send food and water immediately to local NGO’s. During floods and mass landslides in El Salvador, the government immediately set up shelters and released 800,000 dollars to humanitarian efforts. There are radio alerts to warn the people not immediately **affected** by the landslides. Police are on patrol, to stop burglary or suicide. Some selfless victims who have not been seriously injured or hurt can start to help themselves or others. Fire fighters can put out fires if small houses get knocked down or cars explode from force of **boulders** ER (emergency response) medical teams can rescue injured victims from helicopters. Political leaders can arrive on the scene to calm things down. The military and police can evacuate victims by helicopter or 4 wheel drives. What people can do to recover and rebuild is… The government can start to relocate people if clearing away the mud and **debris** is impossible If clearing away the debris and mud is possible, then… Insurance companies can start to inspect buildings for safety and knock down unsafe buildings and build them back better prepared for natural disasters. Families can create and review or update their emergency plans. Bring on the diggers! Sanitation companies can start to clean up debris and trash to prevent replica of **Japanese tsunami Garbage Island** Local NGO’s can go to the worst affected areas of the landslide and clean up and get donations to there first and send clean water. Builders can start to repair roads and rebuild buildings Companies can start to re- employ people that have lost their jobs from the mudslides. ** Conclusion ** Landslides can be very dangerous or hardly a concern. They only happen, like, a few times a year.
 * Mudslide safety **
 * Become familiar with the land around you. Find out if you’re in a landslide prone area.
 * If you live in a landslide prone area, during a big storm, stay on the high levels of your house- apartment and don’t sleep in a bedroom on the lower floor that faces a mountain.
 * If you spot a debris flow racing towards you, get out of the way and to a nearby hill or high-up place
 * If you spot a debris flow racing towards you and you can’t get out of the way, crouch down with your hands over your head.
 * Also it would be good to prepare a safety kit (sleeping bag, flashlight, canned food, water.)
 * Landslide types **
 * Debris flow- a quick, huge movement of fast- flowing rock, organic matter, water, air, and loose soil.
 * Debris avalanche- same as a debris flow, only faster.
 * Earth flow- where the material at the top of a slope becomes too fine or too **saturated** with water that it moves downhill. It often leaves a ‘bowl’ at the top of the flow, creating an hourglass- like shape to the flow.
 * Mudflow- when the dirt on a slope gets so saturated that it slips away. They’re also called mudslides.
 * Creep- A slow, strong movement of the rock or soil that creates the slope. They take a long time and measures can be made to prevent those few areas from further **erosion.**
 * Immediate Response **
 * Recovery **


 * Sources **
 * Wikipedia
 * Ed. Helper
 * The Cambodian Red Cross foundation

__ Glossary __
 * 1) Affected. To be disrupted by something (//The earthquake in San Francisco affected million of lifestyles and homes.//)
 * 2) Bedrock. The first layer of rock in the Earth or any firm foundation(composed mostly of earth)
 * 3) Boulder. A huge rock ranging in size from about a meter to a small car to a truck or delivery van.
 * 4) Canyons. Most of the time a largish valley with cliffs and rock formations
 * 5) Debris. Random broken stuff affected by a disaster(also stuff like soil, dirt, broken branches, dead bodies, vomit)
 * 6) Erosion. The state where something is being worn away (//His faith in him was eroding, slowly being worn away over time.//)
 * 7) Flash flood. A very sudden and unexpected flood, extremely dangerous, usually caused by heavy rainfall
 * 8) Groundwater. The dirty water that is stored between the surface of the Earth and the Earth’s crust.
 * 9) Modification. To change something slightly or to upgrade something
 * 10) Saturated. Soaked, wet, or infused with water.
 * 11) Tragedy. Something very sad happening(can also be used as a figure of speech: //Ah, this is a great tragedy//)
 * 12) Vegetation. Plants and trees,(//he studies local vegetation as a hobby//)
 * 13) Japanese tsunami Garbage Island. A huge, huge island of garbage, created by the pullout of the 2011 Japanese tsunami.