What to Do Before a Landslide (Quick Scoop)

If you live in or near a landslide‑prone area, the most important things to do **before** a landslide are: know your risk, plan how to evacuate, prepare an emergency kit, and stay alert to warning signs and weather alerts.

Know Your Risk and Your Land

• Check if your area has a history of landslides, mudslides, or debris flows (local disaster office, geology or public works department, or national geological survey).

• Learn which neighborhoods, slopes, or roads nearby have slid before; landslides are more likely to recur where they have already happened.

• Walk around your property (or building surroundings) and look for warning signs such as:
  • Cracks in soil or pavement on slopes
  • Bulging ground at the base of a slope
  • Tilted or leaning trees, poles, fences, or walls
  • New wet, muddy spots on hillsides or unexplained springs.

Imagine your hillside as a sleeping giant: if you see it cracking, leaning, or slowly slumping, it may be getting ready to move.

Create a Family Landslide Plan

• Map out at least two evacuation routes that lead away from slopes, canyons, river channels, and steep roads.

• Decide a safe meeting point on higher, stable ground in case family members get separated.

• Plan for children, older adults, pregnant people, and persons with disabilities—who helps whom, and how you will transport them quickly.

• Practice your evacuation plan like a fire drill so everyone can leave fast under stress.

Numbered checklist you can tape on the fridge:

1. Who wakes whom.
2. Who grabs the emergency kit and documents.
3. Who helps children / elderly / pets.
4. Which route to take first; what is the backup route.
5. Where to meet if you are separated.

Prepare an Emergency “Grab & Go” Kit

Before a landslide, prepare a small, easy‑to‑carry kit you can grab in seconds.

Pack essentials such as:

• Water (at least 1–2 liters per person), non‑perishable snacks or food.
• Flashlight with extra batteries, battery or hand‑crank radio for alerts.

• First‑aid kit, important medications, glasses, basic hygiene items.

• Copies of IDs, insurance papers, and key documents in a waterproof bag.

• Phone charger and power bank, some cash, extra keys.

• For cold or rainy areas: raincoat, warm clothing, sturdy shoes.

Keep one kit near your main exit, and if possible another in your car trunk so you can leave even if you cannot re‑enter your home.

Stay Informed and Watch the Weather

• Sign up for local emergency alerts, weather apps, text warnings, or siren systems.

• Pay special attention during:
  • Intense or long‑lasting rainfall
  • Rapid snowmelt
  • Recent wildfires on nearby hillsides
  • After earthquakes—slopes may be weakened.

• Keep a battery‑powered or hand‑crank radio in case power and mobile networks fail.

In recent years, many deadly landslides were preceded by heavy rain and flood warnings—treat those alerts as serious early signals, not background noise.

Recognize Early Physical Warning Signs

Before many landslides, the land “whispers” warnings. Learn to notice them.

Watch and listen for:

• New cracks in the ground, streets, driveways, or retaining walls.
• Doors and windows suddenly sticking, or foundations shifting.
• Bulging ground at the base of slopes or retaining walls.
• Sudden increase or decrease in stream or creek water level, or water turning very muddy.

• Tilted or bent trees, poles, or fences, sinkholes or new depressions.

• Rumbling sounds, like rocks knocking together, or unusual “whooshing” from uphill.

If you see several of these signs—especially during or after heavy rain—move people to safer, higher ground and contact local authorities immediately.

Protect and Maintain Your Property (Longer‑Term)

These are prevention steps you do **well before** any storm, often with professional help.

• Keep drains, gutters, and culverts clear so water can flow away safely.

• Channel surface water away from slopes; avoid letting roof or driveway runoff pour directly onto unstable hillsides.

• Plant deep‑rooted vegetation on slopes to help stabilize soil, and avoid removing trees or vegetation on steep hills unless advised by a specialist.

• Do not cut steep road benches or backyard terraces without professional engineering—poor grading can greatly increase landslide risk.

• If you notice recurring small slides or soil movement on your land, consult a geotechnical engineer or local geologist about reinforcement options (retaining walls, drainage systems, etc.).

Vehicle and Travel Precautions Before a Landslide

• During heavy rain or in landslide‑prone seasons, avoid unnecessary travel near steep slopes, canyon roads, or river valleys.

• If you must drive:
  • Check road closures and hazard maps first.
  • Drive slowly and watch for fallen rocks, mud on the road, or sagging pavement.

• Park away from steep embankments or the base of unstable hills to reduce the chance of being hit by debris.

Mini Story: A “Near Miss” That Shows What Works

A small hillside community had experienced a landslide fifteen years ago, and most new residents saw it as distant history. One rainy season, the local council pushed reminders on social media and community boards, urging people to check their slopes, clean drains, and review evacuation routes.

One night, after several days of intense rain, a family noticed that their backyard retaining wall had started cracking and leaning outward, and their nearby stream suddenly went from low and clear to high and muddy. Remembering the community training, they woke their neighbors, grabbed their pre‑packed emergency kits, and moved to the school on higher ground, which was their designated safe point.

Two hours later, a debris flow swept through the lower part of their street, burying cars and filling ground‑floor homes with mud. Because people had taken the warnings seriously—watching for signs, having a plan, and evacuating early—no one in that block died or was seriously injured.

Key Safety Actions Before a Landslide (At a Glance)

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Action	What to Do	Why It Matters
Know your risk	Check past landslides, hazard maps, and local advice for your area.	Landslides often repeat in the same locations.
Make a family plan	Agree on evacuation routes, roles, and a meeting place; practice regularly.	Reduces confusion and delays when every minute counts.
Prepare an emergency kit	Pack water, food, light, radio, first aid, meds, documents, and cash.	Lets you leave quickly and stay safe if you cannot return home.
Watch weather & alerts	Follow heavy‑rain, flood, and landslide watches/warnings via apps or radio.	Gives early notice to evacuate before the slope fails.
Look for warning signs	Notice new cracks, tilting trees, muddy water, and rumbling sounds.	Lets you act before a major slide, often the difference between life and death.
Improve drainage & slopes	Keep drains clear, direct water away from slopes, protect vegetation, seek expert help.	Reduces the chance of slope failure, especially during storms.
Be cautious when driving	Avoid steep, unstable roads during heavy rain; watch for debris.	Many landslide deaths occur on roads blocked or swept away by debris.

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Learn what to do before a landslide: how to check your risk, spot warning signs, prepare an emergency kit, and evacuate safely to protect your family.

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