Landslide Safety Guide
Warning signs of slope failure, rainfall triggers, and what to do during and after a landslide.
Compiled from official emergency-management guidance (FEMA/Ready.gov, IFRC, WHO, national agencies) · Reviewed by the WND Editorial Team · Last reviewed:
Key action: During intense or prolonged rain on or below slopes, stay alert and be ready to leave fast. Sudden cracking sounds, tilting trees or newly muddy streams mean move out of the path immediately — across the slope, not downhill.
Before the event
- Learn whether your home sits on, above or below steep slopes, drainage channels or previous slide areas.
- Watch for slow warning signs: new cracks in walls/foundations, doors jamming, tilting fences or poles, bulging ground.
- Avoid concentrating water on slopes: fix leaks, direct drainage safely.
- Plant ground cover on slopes; consult engineers about retaining structures where risk is high.
- Plan evacuation routes and sleep away from the slope side of the house during extreme rain events.
During the event
- Intense rainfall or earthquake near slopes: stay awake and alert — many landslide deaths occur while people sleep.
- Listen for unusual sounds: cracking trees, boulders knocking, a low rumble growing louder.
- Watch streams: sudden rise, fall, or water turning muddy signals debris flow upstream.
- If a slide approaches: run sideways out of its path, not straight downhill.
- Cannot escape? Curl tight, protect your head, and shield behind sturdy cover.
- In a vehicle: watch for collapsed pavement and debris; never cross an active flow.
After the event
- Stay away from the slide area — secondary slides follow.
- Check for trapped people near the edge without entering the debris field; direct rescuers.
- Report broken utilities to prevent fires and further damage.
- Watch for flooding — slides can dam rivers which later fail.
- Have foundations and slope stability assessed by professionals before reoccupying.
- Replant damaged slopes promptly to reduce future erosion.
Emergency kit checklist
- Standard 72-hour kit (water, food, torch, first aid, radio)
- Whistle to signal if trapped
- Sturdy boots and helmet where risk is high
Evacuation guidance
- Evacuate on official advice or your own warning signs — never wait for the slope to visibly move.
- Move to stable ground away from slide paths, gullies and river channels.
What NOT to do
- Do NOT build or camp at the mouth of mountain drainage channels.
- Do NOT cross an active debris flow on foot or by vehicle.
- Do NOT return to collect belongings while slopes remain saturated.
- Do NOT assume a small slide is finished — it may be the start.
Children, older people and people with disabilities
- Households with limited-mobility members in risk zones should relocate pre-emptively during extreme-rain warnings.
- Teach children the escape direction (sideways) and the meeting point.
Pet safety
- Move animals out of slide-path enclosures during heavy-rain warnings.
Frequently asked questions
What triggers most landslides?
Water — intense or prolonged rainfall saturating slopes — plus earthquakes, volcanic activity, erosion and slope modification by construction. Wildfire-burned slopes are especially prone to debris flows for several years.
How fast do debris flows move?
Typical debris flows travel 10–60 km/h and the fastest exceed 100 km/h, giving little time to react — which is why recognizing warning signs and pre-emptive evacuation matter.