Landslides and Avalanches impact and

management
Introduction

Earth since its formation undergoes various types of changes, it may be

slow or catastrophic and those changes that affect the human being adversely

are known as environmental hazard.

Landslides and Avalanches are the example of terrestrial hazard.

Terrestrial hazard refers to those hazard caused by endogenetic forces coming

from within the earth. A land slide is closely related to avalanches but in case

of occurring with snow it occurs with the element of ground like houses, trees,

rocks etc.

“Landslides is a rapid movement of rock, soil, vegetation down the slope under

the influence of gravity”.

“The term avalanches generally denotes the descent of material down a

mountain slope, but specially meaning the hurtling down a mountain slope of

mass of snow compounded with ice and rock”.

Objective:

To know the impact and management of land slide and avalanches.

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Methodology:

It is a compilation work based on secondary sources of data collected

from books, journals, internet sources etc.

Analysis:

Landslides is a rapid movement of rock, soil, vegetation down the slope

under the influence of gravity.

Causes of Landslides:

A. Ground Causes

1. Weak, Sensitivity or Weathered materials

2. Adverse ground structure

3. Physical property variation

B. Morphological Causes

1. Ground uplift

2. Erosion

3. Scour

4. Deposition loading in the slope crest

5. Vegetation on removal

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 C. Physical Causes

1. Prolonged precipitation

2. Rapid draw-down

3. Earth quake

4. Volcanic eruption

D. Manmade Causes

1. Excavation

2. Loading of slope crest

3. Draw-down

4. Deforestation

Impact:

Landslides occur all over the world and have different effects on people,

buildings, animals and landscape which are discussed in below.

a. Mankind:

The effect on Landslides have on humans are property damage,

injury and even death.

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 b. Animals
The effect of Landslides have on animals are Landslides destroy

their habitat and animals would trouble in finding food since the land

slide would ruined their habitat.

c. Plant life

When Landslides occur plant life can be washed down the slope

and it can also ruin or destroy the plant life.

Avalanches

The term “avalanches” generally denotes the descent of material down a

mountain slope but specifically meaning the hurtling down a mountain

slope of mass of snow compounded with ice and rock.

Damage by avalanches

Generally speaking avalanches cause the following damages.

a. Roads are damaged by snow of the avalanches

b. Traffic is blocked by snow avalanches

c. Retailing ell are overturned.

d. Structures coming in the way of avalanches are damage.

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 Management of Landslides

What to do before a Landslides

a. Don’t build near steep slope, close mountain edge near drainage ways or

natural erosion valleys.

b. Get a ground assessment of property.

c. Learn about the emergency response and evaluation plans for your area.

d. Develop your own emergency plans for your family or business.

e. Watch the patterns of storm-water drainage near your home and note

that the places where run off water converges, increasing flow in

channels. These are areas to avoid during a storm.

f. Contact local official, state geological surveys or dept. of natural

resources and university dept. of geology. Landslides occur where they

have before and in identifiable hazard locations.

g. Plant ground cover on slope and build retaining walls.

h. In mud flow areas, build channels or deflection walls to direct the flow

around building.

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What to do during a Landslides

a. Stay alert and awake many debris-flow fatalities occur when people are

sleeping.

b. If you are in areas susceptible to land slides and debris flow, consider

leaving if it is safe to do so.

c. Be aware that strong shaking from earthquake can induce or intensify

the effects of Landslides.

d. Be especially alert when driving.

e. Listen for any unusual sound that might indicate moving debris as trees

cracking or boulders knocking together.

What to do after a Landslides

a. Stay away from Landslides area.

b. Listen to local radio or T.V for emergency information.

c. Help a neighbour who may require special assistance in flants , elderly

people and people with disabilities.

d. Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide without entering

the direct slide area.

e. Check the building foundation, chimney and surrounding land for

damage.

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 f. Look for and report broken utility lines and damaged road ways and

railways to appropriate authorities.

g. Seek advice from a geotechnical export for evaluating Landslides hazard

or designing corrective measures to reduce Landslides risk.

h. Replant damaged ground as soon as possible since erosion caused by

loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding and additional Landslidess

in the near future.

i. Watch for flooding which may occur after a land slide or debris flow.

Floods sometimes follow Landslidess and debris flows because they may

both be started by the same event.

Management of Avalanches

Preparation

a. Wear an avalanche rescue beacon that signals your location.

b. Learn how to use the rescue equipments.

c. Practice using the rescue equipments.

Awareness

a. Constantly evaluate avalanche condition.

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 b. Areas with fresh accumulations of wind driven snow are particularly

vulnerable.

c. Extremely steep slopes particularly in shaded areas near a ridge are also

risky.

What to do if caught

a. If caught in a slide, try to get off the slab or grab a tree.

b. If swept away, swim to the surface.

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Conclusion

Observing the above analysis it is right to say that Landslidess and

avalanches are natural disasters which may result in loss of life and property.

So, the govt. should take steps that helps to safe people from these deadly

event and people should also be census about it.

Reference

1. Singh Savendar: Environmental geography.

2. Khullar D.R : India a comprehensive geography.

3. Encyclopedia.

4. www.OSDMA.in

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