State Issues Flooding and Landslide Safety Advice

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Portland, Ore. – With heavy rain and flooding projected for the weekend, Oregonians are encouraged to know landslide warning signs. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for many areas of Oregon and Washington for Saturday through Monday afternoon.

Track Oregon flood watches here: http://1.usa.gov/1zJLVZW

“Be aware of flood watches, warnings and advisories for your area, and know what to look out for,” says Ali Ryan, earth science information officer for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). “Watch for signs like trickles of falling debris or mud, listen for sounds like trees cracking that might indicate land movement. If you think there’s danger, leave immediately.”

Areas like bases of steep hillsides, canyon bottoms, road cuts, and places where landslides have previously occurred are particularly hazardous and should be avoided.

Historic weather events offer a look at the often-destructive landslides that come along with floods. From mid-December 1964 to early January 1965, the Pacific Northwest was ravaged by floods that devastated many Oregon communities. Those floods were accompanied by landslides that damaged homes, blocked roads and highways, and cut off water supplies.

The exact number of landslides following the 1964 Christmas Flood wasn’t well documented. But geologists say they would have numbered in the thousands, given the more than 9,500 landslides that followed the similar flood devastation of 1996-1997.

“Landslides will be a reality in future major flood events,” says Bill Burns, DOGAMI engineering geologist. “And because Oregon’s population is growing, more people, places and property may be at risk.”

Land that has slid before tends to slide again – so knowing where past landslides have occurred is critical in helping Oregon communities understand their risks. DOGAMI’s inventory maps, which identify locations of previous landslides, are a critical starting place. The Statewide Landslide Database for Oregon (SLIDO) is a collection of all known landslide locations. The SLIDO interactive map at www.oregongeology.org/sub/slido makes locating landslides as simple as entering an address.

Learn more about landslide hazards and preparedness at http://bit.ly/landslidehazards.

If you see local news happen, call the Horizon Broadcasting Group News Tip Hotline at 541-323-NEWS, or email us.

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