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Landslides and debris flows: what to do

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

A landslide is rock, earth, or debris moving down a slope. This page helps you spot the warning signs and move to safety, especially after heavy rain or a wildfire.

Do this now

  1. If you hear a rumble, see moving mud or debris, or hear cracking trees, move away from the path right away.
  2. Go uphill and to the side, out of the flow's path, as fast as you can. Do not run downhill or along the channel.
  3. Stay out of river valleys and low areas during danger.
  4. If you cannot escape, curl into a tight ball and protect your head.
  5. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) once you are safe.

Warning signs

Fast moving debris flows are the most dangerous. They can arrive without much notice, and many deaths happen at night while people sleep.

  • Rushing water, mud, or unusual sounds such as cracking trees or boulders knocking together
  • A faint rumble that grows louder as the slide comes
  • A sudden rise or drop in the level of a stream, or water turning from clear to muddy
  • Heavy rain, or a recent wildfire in the area upslope

Slow moving slides give different signs over days or weeks:

  • New cracks in walls, floors, foundations, or pavement
  • Doors and windows that begin to stick
  • Tilting trees, fences, retaining walls, or utility poles
  • Bulging ground at the bottom of a slope
  • Water appearing in the ground in new places

After heavy rain

Soaked ground is heavy and loose, and slopes can give way during or after long rain. Landslides can also happen on dry days after the ground has been saturated.

When rain is heavy and you live below a steep slope, stay alert and keep your phone alerts on. If officials tell you to leave, go early. If you are asleep when the rain is heaviest, a battery radio or phone alert can wake you in time.

After wildfires

Burned slopes cannot soak up rain, because plants and roots that held the soil are gone. Even a short, hard rainstorm can send mud and rocks down a burned hillside. This risk can last for years.

If you live below a burn area, ask your local emergency office about warnings and evacuation plans, and treat any heavy rain forecast as a reason to prepare to leave.

... warning "Do not wait for a slide to start" Debris flows can move faster than a person can run. Leave when you are told to, before the rain gets heavy.

Move out of the path

If you are caught in the path, move uphill and out of the channel as quickly as you can. A slide travels down the lowest route, so getting up and to the side puts you out of its way.

  • Do not cross roads or bridges with flowing water or mud.
  • Do not drive toward a slide. Roads can be buried or washed out.
  • If you are in a car and cannot escape, get out and move uphill if it is safe to do so.

Right after a slide

  • Stay away from the slide area. More slides may follow.
  • Watch for flooding, which often comes after a landslide.
  • Check for injured or trapped people from a safe distance, without entering the slide area, and tell rescuers where they are.
  • Report broken power, water, or gas lines and damaged roads to the proper authorities.
  • Have your home checked by a professional before you go back in.

... note "Get expert help for repairs" Do not try to fix the slope yourself. A geotechnical expert can tell you if the ground is stable and what repairs make sense.