n/a

789 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Disaster management Natural and man made disaster

Lesson learned with the help of technology
Natural disasters happen unexpectedly all over the world that can cause injury, death, and finical devastation, however over time technology can play a role in the question "why" and "when". The Aldercrest-Banyon landslide was one disaster that put Kelso, Washington on the worst urban landslides in the United States history when it comes to cost. (FEMA, 2013)According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012) "Landslides occur when masses of rock, earth, or debris move down a slope" (CDC, 2012) When the stability of a slope on the side of a hill side is disturbed this can eventually cause a landslide. The issue with Aldercrest-Banyon landslide, a consistency of rain fall over 3.5 years (above average rainfall), small housing developments built on a hazard place, and road excavation that took place on the lower part of the slide.(Davila, 1999) With the FEMA preparedness plan today, this situation could have cost less in damage and created an environment more stable; that still is unstable.
Aldercrest- Banyon residents were experiencing changes of ground movement. Signs were detected in February 1998, underground Utilities were damaged or breaking, residents’ homes were developing cracks, and road ways were splitting. "The problem was that the site had been erroneously mapped as stable ground, when in fact, the homes had been erected on an ancient landslide that just needed a little extra rain to reactivate." (Burns, 2007) Geologist has become a part of the prevention of natural disasters to monitor ground activity such as earthquakes and landslides. According to USGS (2013) every state must have some landslide information provided to the public. Reports were taken mid-April 1998...

... middle of paper ...

...round movement, damages to homes, roads, and city property. In this day in age Geologists have become the leader on prevention in natural disasters before they happen. The preparation and prevention guided by city and state government that can minimize cost according to USGS (2013) are:
• Avoid buildings, slopes, mountain edges, and drainage ways in the hazard zones
• Watch storm-water drainage patterns.
• Minimize home hazards
• Have Gas Company or professional assist flexible pipe fittings.
• Plant ground covers cover on slopes and build retaining walls.
• In mud flow areas, build channels or deflection walls to direct flow around buildings.
By being prepared and informed in situations such as a landslide, City and State government can report assistance from FEMA for values on homes and help recover damages that could not have been prevented from Mother Nature.

Show More
Related

  • National Preparedness System

    511 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mitigation: Measures taken to lessen the consequences of disaster events upon our citizens and our

    Read More

  • Hurricane Katrina

    2601 Words  | 6 Pages

    Federal intervention in the aftermath of natural disasters began after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. This 8.3 magnitude earthquake killed 478, and left over 250,000 homeless. While the disaster itself was obviously unavoidable, the subsequent fires that burned throughout the city were a result of poor planning. (1, 17) In an effort to consolidate existing programs, and to improve the nation’s level of preparedness, President Carter created FEMA in 1979. Initially, FEMA was praised for improving communication between various levels of government, and multiple agencies during a crisis. (1,19)

    Read More

  • Viewing America with Geology

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    "USGS: Geological Survey Bulletin 1347 (Earthquakes)." USGS: Geological Survey Bulletin 1347 (Earthquakes). Web. 20 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Northridge California Earthquake

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before examining the Northridge event, understanding the naturally occurring hazard that is an earthquake will help to better understand exactly what happened and why it was such an important geological event. With four distinct layers, two layers, the crust and upper portion of the mantle, compose the skin that is the surface layer of the Earth. The crust is not a single, continuous piece. It is actually several different pieces, or plates, that come together to form the puzzle that comprises the surface of the Earth. These plates are in constant motion rubbing against one another. These areas, known as fault lines, where the plates rub up against one another have spots where one plate ”gets stuck while the rest of the plate keeps moving. When the plate has moved far enough, the edges unstick and is how most of the earthquakes around the world occur” (Wald, 2012). The energy stored from the friction of the two plate...

    Read More

  • The Bay Area and Earthquakes

    340 Words  | 1 Pages

    What have they learned since the quake quite allot. The fault moved in a fashion that geologists of

    Read More

  • The Susceptibility of California to Earthquakes

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    Earthquakes have impacted many areas in the United States, especially along the western coast in states like Alaska, Hawaii, and California. California is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it is located on the famous San Andreas Fault in the very seismically active Ring of Fire. Earthquake hazards are also prominent in many other regions across the United States including the Rocky Mountain region, the New Madrid Seismic Zone (a portion of the central United States), as well as portions of the eastern seaboard, specifically South Carolina. Close to “75 million people in 39 states” face considerable and recurring risks from contemporary earthquakes (Monahan 2). Owing to the destructive effects of California’s earthquakes in the past few decades and generally around the world, scientists have made an effort to locate and measure the size of an earthquake, predict a location’s vulnerability to earthquakes, and develop seismic warning systems in an attempt to reduce potential losses in...

    Read More

  • The Eruption Of Mount Saint Helens

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Boom! A once ice-capped mountain peak explodes as ash fills the air. “‘Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!’”Those were the last words of expert geologist David Johnston (Gunn 561). In 1980, Mount Saint Helens of the state of Washington erupted, filling the air with ash and causing mudflows powerful enough to lift tons. It decimated everything in its path. The eruptions, mudflows, and ash caused great damage on the landscape, yet it gave us information on how catastrophes happen and how they affect society and the surrounding landscape. The data acquired can also help us understand the way the landscape was formed. Mount Saint Helens caused much damage, but also helped people understand the science behind it.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Fema

    455 Words  | 1 Pages

    The mission of FEMA is “to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.”[1]  FEMA intends “to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters with a vision of ‘A Nation Prepared.’”[2]

    Read More

  • Hurricane Katrina: Causes, Effects, and Aftermath

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... middle of paper ... ... What can we do to be prepared for future natural disasters? The federal government began increasing the height and strength of the levees shortly after Katrina, and millions of dollars have been spent on coastal restoration programs.

    Read More

  • Slum Ecology

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin, the chapter talks about the occurrence of “unnatural hazards” within geographic locations who are most susceptible to natural disasters. Slum housing almost two thirds of the urban population are built on unstable hillsides and on deep gorges surrounding the seismically active Caracas (Davis, 2006). I think it is important to analyze the effects of weaker geographical locations because it does have great bearing on urban planning in developing countries. When countries lack the proper infustructure needed to prevent or deal with natural disasters, it creates a ripple effect of issue that disturbs the ecological system.

    Read More

  • Mudslides: Causes and Effects

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    Living in Bangladesh, we have seen quite disastrous mudslides from the past few years. Mudslide is also called a landslide or a land slip. It is a downward mass movement of earth or rock on unstable slopes, including many forms resulting from differences in rock structure, coherence of material involved, degree of slope, amount of included water, extent of natural or artificial undercutting at the base of the slope, relative rate of movement, and relative quantity of material involved. There are numerous facts that can cause a mudslide and there are also numerous effects that it can cause us.

    Read More

  • Earthquake Essay

    1824 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... although we may never be able to understand exactly what soil failures can occur when a natural disasters take place, as time goes on and testing instruments and materials advance we will hopefully have a better understanding of what we can do to avoid soil failures and come up with a better and more sufficient method of improving the soils structure and strength permanently. While researching the information for this report I feel I have a much better understanding for construction geo-technics and foundations especially regarding the deformation, liquefaction and pile information related to this specific event. I hope to carry the information I have learned from this event into the construction field and apply them towards an authentic project that’s taking place and know that the information, regarding soils, I have given input on will be precise and accurate.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Panama Canal

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...strous. These landslides were caused by the heavy rainfall which often caused the hills being dug to give way, resulting in massive landslides. The workers cut their way through the continent with dynamite and steam shovels. These engineering maneuvers were slow and time consuming but were completed successfully (McCullough 106-108).

    Read More

  • Different Types of Disasters

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    Communities throughout the country and the world are susceptible to disasters. The environment and location of a community often predisposes a greater susceptibility to the type of disaster. For example Central Pennsylvania would not be susceptible to an avalanche however communities in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado would have increase vulnerability. Understanding the types of disaster for which the community is susceptible is essential for emergency preparedness (Nies & McEwen, 2011). All communities are susceptible to man-made disasters; terrorism, fires, and mass transit accidents and emergency preparedness are essential. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is responsible for disaster planning.

    Read More

  • Earthquakes Hazards And Disaster

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    Earthquakes belong to the class of most disastrous natural hazards. They result in unexpected and tremendous earth movements. These movements results from dissemination of an enormous amount of intense energy in form of seismic waves which are detected by use of seismograms. The impact of earthquakes leaves behind several landmarks including: destruction of property, extensive disruption of services like sewer and water lines, loss of life, and causes instability in both economic and social components of the affected nation (Webcache 2).

    Read More

More about n/a

Open Document