Landslides Incident Management

Incident Management Guidelines

A landslide is a phenomenon that includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes, and shallow debris flows. Landslides may also follow heavy rains or earthquakes. Changes to the landscape may indicate an imminent landslide, such as changing patterns of storm‐water drainage on slopes (especially the places where runoff water converges) and land movement. Small slides and flows may occur as a precursor to larger earth movements. Doors or windows stick or may also jam for the first time; new cracks may appear in plaster, tile, brick, foundations, outside walls, or walkways; stairs may begin to pull away from buildings. In addition, slowly developing and widening cracks appear on the ground, or on paved areas such as streets or driveways. Underground utility lines may break, and bulging may appear at the base of a slope. Water may also break through the ground surface in new locations; fences, retaining walls, utility poles, or trees may tilt or move; and a faint rumbling sound that increases in volume may be noticeable as the landslide event approaches. The ground may start to shift in the direction of the slope, and unusual sounds such as trees cracking and boulders striking together may indicate moving debris.

In the event of a landslide incident occurring, the following points should be addressed:

✓ Action Points

1. Stand up the Incident Management and Crisis Response Teams using the SAD CHALETS system.
2. Personnel should be advised to avoid steep slopes, especially close to mountain edges, near drainage ways, or in natural erosion valleys.
3. During a landslide warning, personnel should be advised to stay alert and awake, since many debris flow fatalities occur when people are sleeping.
4. If project staff are in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consideration should be given to departing the area as the first indicators of a possible landslide occur.
5. After a landslide, personnel should stay away from the slide area, following directions from local news or television stations.
6. Additional hazards include flooding, damaged roadways, and damaged public utilities, such as broken gas pipes.
7. Managers should check the building foundations, chimney, and surrounding land for damage, as structural damage may pose additional postevent hazards.
8. Personnel should be mustered, and missing staff must be accounted for.
9. Other elements of the IMP should be instigated as appropriate.
10. Provide an IMP Risk Assessment Report as soon as possible.

Key People to Call (see the IMP Communications Plan)

Group	Yes/No	Group	Yes/No
• Medical organization		• Organic QRF
• Military interface		• Crisis response team
• Embassy or consulate		• Security provider (vendor)
• Police, fire, or ambulance		• Other groups