Landslides are one of the most common and devastating natural hazards in the Pacific Northwest and the damage they cause is almost never covered by insurance, warns the state Department of Natural Resources in its Homeowners Guide to Landslides, at st.news/slide. The powerful slide shoved one home at the bottom of the cliff about 200 feet into the water, and took out nearly 400 feet of Driftwood Way, the road to the shoreline. A man wades through rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River to take a photo in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as area rivers and snow runoff begin to accelerate flooding in the south sound. Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. Control runoff from buildings and roads so it flows away from steep slopes and into natural drainages or storm drains. For Seattle residents living in a house in hilly terrain or thinking of buying one, the city maintains an online page of resources as well as survey maps showing areas having a 40% or greater slope. Landslides take lives, destroy homes, businesses, and public buildings, interrupt transportation, undermine bridges, derail train cars, cover marine habitat and damage utilities. Reggie Brown, of Centralia, carries his daughter, Ocean, 4, on his shoulders as he walks through the floodwaters on Highway 507 with his wife, Jonell Brown, on Friday in Centralia, Wash. By knowing where landslides are, local officials and residents can take proper care to reduce the likelihood of reactivating the slides. Fire on Lake City Way in Seattle raises smoke, flooding concerns, WA to end masking requirement in health care, correctional facilities, Tacoma woman refusing tuberculosis treatment continues to face arrest, Be bolder to get light rail done, expert panel tells Sound Transit, Driver makes U-turn, hits pedestrian near Pioneer Square, police say. Record rain and snow will cause floods, possible landslides, and higher avalanche risks across western Washington state, with more forecast to fall through the weekend. Any commuter on the Sounder trains traveling at the base of bluffs along the shore of Puget Sound is all too familiar with these sorts of landslides, which disrupt service on the mud-piled tracks. The data on this website are meant to provide general information only; real landslides have many variables. The addition of water can increase pore fluid pressure and separate grains. Scientistsat the USGS are also asking the public to help by reporting landslide experiencesand sightings at the newUSGS Did YouSee It? website. Washington is one of the most landslide-prone states in the country, with hundreds to thousands of events each year. Immediately following the event, the USGS also installed three rapid-deployment gages and three buoys to measure flow, sediment, and lake levels. When there is a lot of water and the pore fluid pressure is high, the water buoys up the grains and forces them apart. There are steps that can be taken to live more securely with our states landslide risk, DNR advises. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Photo by Jack Powell, WGS. What are Washington State Business Structures? Research has also shown that heavy seasonal precipitation likely contributed to destabilizing the slope. They are usually composed of relatively loose or unconsolidated material. The major route across Washington's Cascades I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass closed Thursday due to avalanche danger, heavy snow and low visibility. USGS research indicates that the landslides average speed was about 40 miles per hour, with maximum speeds likely even higher. If the landslide had behaved in the expected range, it would have likely blocked the river and possibly destroyed some houses, which may have caused casualties. Forecasters say the rains should subside over the weekend but landslides will continue to be a risk into Saturday as soils remain saturated. It is the nature of the states geology and topography to slip, slide and slump during the wet months of the year. hide caption. Any change to the Earth's surface that increases the slope (for example, river incision or the removal of material at the base of a slope by humans) or that reduces the friction of a slope (such as the addition of water) can increase the likelihood of a landslide. Take our slopes, just add water and gravity. Special coverage called a Difference of Condition policy is available for stand-alone purchase but is expensive and usually obtained from a broker in specialty lines of insurance. hide caption. A man trapped in the home's basement was extricated, according to the Seattle Fire Department. The USGS also worked with partners to obtain and study soil samples from the landslide area to better understand the landslides characteristics and behavior. Falls and topples are usually rapid, downward movement of large pieces of rock or debris. By releasing this data and making people aware of landslide danger, we hope to lower the risk to hundreds of thousands of King County residents.. Since 2015, the Washington Geological Survey has maintained a Google map of recently reported landslides for the state. The ground slopes downward in one specific direction and may begin shifting in that direction under your feet. Exceptionally high tides and winds were causing coastal flooding around homes in Birch Bay, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. Seek out advisories and warnings during and after intense rainfall events. A fatal mudslide in Washington State is a reminder of the lethal force of the fast-moving natural phenomenon. Stevens Pass on U.S. 2, White Pass on U.S. 12 and Blewett Pass on U.S. 97 also closed Thursday. The water may be deeper than it appears. Avoid placing fill soil, yard waste or debris on steep slopes, or excavating beneath them. The Washington Geological Survey, a division of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, published a new inventory of known landslides in the western two-thirds of King County today. The cause of the slide was determined to be rainfall and melted snow, which saturated the slope. Rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River begins to inundate several streets in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as area rivers and snow runoff begin to accelerate flooding in the south sound. Stress from earthquakes magnitude 4.0 and greater can cause weak slopes to fail. Washington State has the second highest risk of earthquakes in the U.S. Make no mistake, landslides are us, in a city that has recorded more than 1,300 slides. Deep-seated landslides can cover large areas and devastate infrastructure and housing developments. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. USGS scientists develop tools and produce maps of areas susceptible to landslides and identify what kinds of conditions will most likely lead to such events. Small landslides, such as those that may affect roads during rain events, were not part of this inventory because they are not typically visible in lidar maps. SR 108 at MP 5 is closed in both directions for the second time today for another landslide. Fences, retaining walls, utility poles or trees tilt or move. Landslides in Washington Landslides are common in Washington state, with many occurring annually in the Puget Sound area, especially along the Sound's steep shoreline bluffs. Learn more about how to prepare for and protect yourself, Escape vertically by moving upstairs or even on countertops to avoid being swept away, Identify and relocate to interior, ideally unfurnished, areas of a building that offer more protection, Open downhill doors and windows to let debris escape. KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Missing Pennsylvania woman found alive after more than 30 years, Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Thieves lose ATM ripped out of Lakewood credit union, Florida pastor accused of selling church for drug money. The Oso landslide in Snohomish County on March 22, 2014, killed 43 people and destroyed 49 homes and other structures when an unstable hill . Shallow landslides also occur as flows, slides, or rockfalls and topples. Avoid living in locations that are hazardous. These spiders, which were placed on and near the landslide, contained high-precision GPS units for detecting landslide movement as well as geophones for detecting small vibrations. City leaders are concerned about the weight of snow on buildings and homes, KCPQ-TV reported. The National Weather Service said Hoquiam, Washington, in Grays County received a record 5.78 inches (14.68 centimeters) of rain Thursday. Consult professionals if you suspect you are on a landslide. The crushing slide knocked the third floor of the home off, sending it into Puget Sound, and buried the rest of the house under tons of mud. These long-lived features can be partially or entirely reactivated for a variety of reasons. For existing communities built on or near landslides, mitigation measures retaining trees and native vegetation on slopes, or keeping downspouts and driveways from draining onto slopes, for instance can reduce the potential of landslides reactivating. The area overrun by the landslide was about half a square mile, and the landslide moved about 18 million tons of sand, till and clay. Lahars are debris flows that originate on volcanoes. Erosion caused by loss of ground cover can lead to flash flooding. Thefollowing is an updated version of a story first published in March of 2015. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that the landslides average speed was about 40 mph, with maximum speeds likely even higher. Always drain surface runoff away from slopes, fix plumbing leaks that could saturate soil, and plant and protect native ground cover and trees. A Bainbridge Isand family of four was killed in 1997 by an avalanche of mud that hit their home as they slept on Rolling Bay Walk. Live video from KING-TV appeared to show crews rescuing a person and working to extinguish a fire just outside the home. Deep-seated landslides can also occur at any time. Landslide debris covered about 40 homes and other structures as well as nearly a mile of State Route 530. chevron_right Seismic Scenarios. The National Weather Service said Hoquiam, Washington, received a record 5.78in of rain Thursday. menu. Astoria got more than 4 inches (10.1 cm) of rain Thursday, breaking a record for rain on that date set in 1914. Those grains of sand that stick together making vertical walls with just the right amount of moisture? Remember: If you build walls to divert debris flow and the flow lands on a neighbors property, you may be liable for damages. Osowas emblematic of a worst-case landslide scenario. Landslides cause widespread damage but are often under-represented and understudied compared to other potential geologic hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes. USGS scientists continue to study the site to gain new insights that only such a significant, though unfortunate, event can reveal. Imagine trying to slide a large rock along a flat surfaceit's very difficult because of the friction between the rock and the surface. The AldercrestBanyon landslide complex was active for nearly a year and eventually destroyed 138 homes. Hoquiam landslide (Washington State Department of Transportation). Image courtesy of USGS. Storefront (or) Table Top Charities - Where does your money go? Some of them include: October 11, 2009 - A massive landslide in the Nile Valley of Yakima County closed a section of Highway 410 west of Naches, destroying two homes, and changing the flow of the Naches River. Some landslides may provide clues that they are about to happen; others may happen suddenly without any warning signs. The hillsides history of slides dates back more than 60 years and some experts said they were shocked when homebuilding was permitted after a big slide in 2006. There are many more projects in progress with partners. What happens next, explains Washington State Geologist Casey Hanell of the DNR, is predictable and in some cases, preventable. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS These landslides usually occur as translational slides, rotational slides, or large block slides. In this case, water soaks through soil and rock, and ponds on impermeable bedrock. Response to the Oso Landslide has involved many federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, as well as the private sector. These organizations include Snohomish County; the Washington State Emergency Management Division; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Washington State Department of Natural Resources; the Washington State Department of Transportation; NOAAs National Weather Service; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians; and the USGS. In northwest Washington, snow fell in Bellingham while roadways flooded throughout Whatcom County. Traffic officials said they will wait for daylight to give them a chance to evaluate and work on a plan to clear the roadway. Landslide figures in the "Types of Landslides" section are modified from U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2004-3072 and Cruden, D. M.; Varnes, D. J., 1996, Landslide types and processes, in Turner, A. K.; Schuster, R. L., editors, LandslidesInvestigation and mitigation: National Academy Press; National Research Council Transportation Research Board Special Report 247, p. 36-75. On Monday, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources issued a landslide advisory around the Puget Sound area and Olympic Peninsula, including Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle. The images in this section are modified from the U.S. Geological Survey. USGS research on the North Fork Stillaguamish River is aimed at identifying potential impacts to the aquatic ecosystem and changes to flood risk along the river corridor including newly reconstructed stretches of State Route 530 and downstream bridges. A USGS project to monitor the evolution of the new channel and the volumes of sediment transported by the North Fork Stillaguamish River, Earth and Planetary Science Letters article, Landslide Mobility and Hazards: Implications of the 2014 Oso Disaster, USGS article, Preliminary Interpretation of Pre-2014 Landslide Deposits in the Vicinity of Oso, Washington, Governor Inslees Joint SR 530 Landslide Commission, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive "Gravity Never Sleeps": The USGS collaborates with community partners for a series of briefings on Capitol Hill to discuss national landslide hazards. Pushing the rock is easier if the surface slopes downhill or is slippery. This and other processes decrease strength and can promote landslides. On Friday morning, King County Fire District #2 responded to a landslide that closed off Southwest 175th and Sylvester Road Southwest in Burien. This event is commonly named the Oso Landslide in many official reports. The slide killed 43 people, destroyed dozens of homes and cabins, covered a mile stretch of State Route 530 and shook the rural community and its surrounding neighbors. The USGS presently operates eight streamgages along the Stillaguamish River, with two being permanent and six as rapid-deployment gages. The detailed landslide inventory will help city and county planners, homeowners, emergency managers, and others identify areas that may need further geologic investigation before development or other uses are approved. A percentage of the landslides are field-checked and all landslide polygons are reviewed by a licensed geologist. Washington is one of the most landslide-prone states in the country, with hundreds to thousands of events each year. These surveys were performed at irregular intervals between July 1, 2014 and July 7, 2015. Original Story -- Release Date:MARCH 16, 2015, One Year Later The Oso Landslide in Washington. A key example of this collaboration is outlined in a story the USGS ran in March of 2015 on the one-year anniversary of the Oso landslide that occurred in northwest Washington. A landslide is blocking the roadway in the 2200. menu. Precipitation in the area during February and March 2014 was 150% to 200% of the long-term average, and likely contributed to slides initiation and mobility, the USGS analysis found. Citizens Serving Citizens with Pride & Tradition, Hazardous Material Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grants, Learn More About Landslides in Washington State. Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide area. The findings of this work will be published in the coming months and are anticipated to help update and develop models that better capture the true behavior of these types of landslides. Cracks in walls, bulging walls or cracks in floors. WASHINGTON - With heavy rain hitting western Washington, several landslides and mudslides have shut down roads and highways in several counties. DNRs Geologic Information Portal, searchable by address, is one place to start. Further information on the Geological Surveys work on landslides in Washington can be found at, Aquatic Lands Habitat Restoration Program, South Lake Washington Restoration Project, Scientific and Technical Support to Aquatic Programs, Washington Geologic Survey Publications Catalog, Washington Geologic Survey Photograph Collection, Wetlands of High Conservation Value Map Viewer, Timber Sale Remaining Volume by Purchaser Reports, Spanish - Brocha, Salal y Otros Productos Forestales, Complete: Baker to Bellingham Non-Motorized Recreation Plan, Community Wildfire Resilience and Preparedness, Utility Wildland Fire Prevention Advisory Committee, Blanchard, Reiter, Walker Valley and Nearby Islands, Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee, Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee Past Meetings. They may contain more coarse material than a mudflow when channelized. Landslides exist throughout Washington State and can be triggered in many ways. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Rising water from the nearby Skookumchuck River begins to inundate several streets in the town of Bucoda, Wash., Friday, as area rivers and snow runoff begin to accelerate flooding in the south sound. Debris flows usually occur in steep gullies, move very rapidly, and can travel for many miles. Earthquakes can also initiate landslides, so be alert if you feel the ground shake and you are near a slope. Replant damaged ground as soon as possible. Sunrise Beach Dr. NW in Gig Harbor is closed in the 10210 block due to a landslide. Deep-seated landslides can occur at any time. In southwestern Washington's Lewis County, a 20-mile (32-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 5 had been closed in both directions south of Chehalis because of flooding from the Chehalis River. In northwest Oregon, coastal flooding after heavy rains disrupted communities. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The Oso landslide involved a complex sequence of geological and hydrological events that ultimately resulted in a debris-avalanche flow. If caught in landslide debris, continue to move and make noise to alert rescuers. Immediately following the event, the USGS installed three rapid-deployment gages and three buoys to measure flow, sediment, and lake levels. SR 109 closed due to landslide (City of Hoquiam). A high density of landslides were found along Puget Sound bluffs, river corridors, and upland areas of the Cascades. This cut the river bed back to near its pre-landslide elevation and effectively drained the remaining excess water by the middle of May. Doors or windows stick or jam for the first time. Another slide on. Movement is accompanied by cracking of the ground. Landslides can occur on gentle to steep slopes but they are most common on steep slopes. Signs of a potential landslide should be reported to your county Emergency Manager so that the area can be properly evaluated. Know what areas near your home or work are at risk. HOQUIAM, Wash. Crews are working to clear a section of State Route 109 in Hoquiam after a landslide Friday morning. Rockfalls and topples are common in Washingtons mountain highways. Slowly developing, widening cracks appear on the ground or on paved areas. In both western Washington state and British Columbia, entire communities were engulfed by floodwaters, which entered homes and businesses early this week, displacing thousands of people.. The mission of the Washington Geological Survey is to collect, develop, use, distribute, and preserve geologic information to promote the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens, protect the environment, and support the economy of Washington. Flows are generally a slurry mixture of water, soil, rock and (or) debris that moves rapidly downslope. In fact, precipitation in the area during February and March of 2014 was 150 to 200 percent of the long-term average. The highway had flooded after heavy rains caused the Skookumchuck River to rise about its northern banks.