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Landslide Hazards Program

Landslides constitute a major geologic hazard because they are widespread, occur in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and cause $1-2 billion in damages and more than 25 fatalities on average each year. Expansion of urban and recreational developments into hillside areas leads to more people that are threatened by landslides each year. Landslides commonly occur in connection with other major natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, and floods.

The primary objective of the National Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) is to reduce long-term losses from landslide hazards by improving our understanding of the causes of ground failure and suggesting mitigation strategies.

The LHP has operated since the mid-1970's in gathering information, conducting research, responding to emergencies and disasters, and producing scientific reports and other products for a broadly based user community including geologists and engineers in government, academia and private practice, planners and decision makers from governmental entities at all levels, and the general public.

The results of these efforts have led to significant improvements in understanding the nature and scope of ground-failure problems nationally and worldwide. Such improvements are central to the role of the program, because opportunities remain for fundamental advances in understanding that promise to save lives and dollars.

Monday 22 February 2010

Briton killed as flash floods devastate Madeira

Madeira Mudslide Mayhem









A Briton has died following flash floods on the Portuguese island of Madeira, the Foreign Office has said.

At least 40 people have been killed in the floods, and more than 120 others hurt - a "small number" British.

Heavy rains brought tonnes of mud and stones down the slopes of the island, flooding the streets of the regional capital, Funchal, and other towns.

The island's 2,000 UK tourists have been told they can venture out again after earlier advice to stay indoors.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the family of the dead Briton had been informed, but added: "We are not able to release any further details at this stage."

There has been widespread damage along the south coast of the island, with roads blocked, phone lines down and many people without water and electricity.

A Portuguese social services spokesman said communication problems were proving very difficult and warned the death toll would "likely increase, given the circumstances of this flood".

Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who has visited the island, said he was appalled by the destruction and promised all necessary help.

Real Madrid and former Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who hails from the island, said: "It is a huge catastrophe, a tragedy without precedent".

Phone lines dead

The Foreign Office said earlier that a "small number" of British nationals had been treated in hospital.

Peter Ramos, of Hospital Cruz de Carvalho, said out of the 120 patients seen on Saturday, three were from the UK.

A woman remained in hospital with multiple injuries, he said, while two men sustained minor injuries and had been discharged.

"Four people in a taxi were hit by floods," he added.

In the UK, families are struggling to contact their relatives in Madeira as many of the phone networks are down.

Martin Hellier, 38, from Yeovil, Somerset, said he was growing increasingly concerned for his parents who live 20 miles (32km) west of Funchal in Ponta Do Sol.

He told the BBC he had heard no news in 24 hours because the phone lines were dead.

"My next course [of action] is to get in touch with the authorities over there and ask them what the conditions are in that particular region," he said.

Mark Costa told the BBC on Sunday he was evacuated from his Funchal apartment because there was no electricity or running water and the underground car park was submerged.

The 30-year-old, from Bicester, Oxfordshire, was visiting his Portuguese parents who were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. All three were later relocated to a safer area of the city.

He said most of the water had now drained into the rivers but the roads around Funchal harbour were covered in mud.

"Looking out of the window, they have diverted the water back into the river," he said.

Former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who is holidaying on the Atlantic island, said the weather had been "really wild".

"One of the staff here said that in 46 years working in the same place he had never seen seas like it or winds like it, so it obviously has been quite exceptional," she said.

UK travel association Abta said the hotels had been largely unaffected.

Some flights were cancelled and delayed on Saturday, but a spokesman said people due to travel out next week would be unaffected by events.

Sunday 14 February 2010

6 die, 14 injured in landslide in Himachal


Six persons, including a woman, were killed and 14 others injured in a landslide at Kachsthal village of Kinnaur district, 50 kms from here this morning, police said.

Around 7:30 am, boulders fell on tin huts on the bank of river Satluj, SP (Kinnaur) Yashbir Singh Pathania said adding the injured have been admitted to a private hospital in Tapri.

The mishap occurred near Karcham Wangto hydroelectricity project being carried by Jaypee group. Most of the victims were labourers hailing from Nepal while some were private contractors, he added.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Prakash Negi said search for the missing is on and the cause of the landslide, whether related to weather or due to the tremor caused by the blasting of rocks at the project site is yet to be ascertained.

Saturday 30 January 2010

A new challenge...

I've just agreed to 'ghost write' the David Wilson blog for my old school mate, Dave 'Snooks' Wilson. The URL is http://thedavidwilson.blogspot.com/ and although I have a free hand in what I report, I have been given strict boundaries including a must inclusion of Aston Villa at least once a week. As we, along with Phil Finney and Richard (1099) Phillips were the only Villa fans in our year at school, then that shouldn't be too hard.

in reference to: Bob De Bilde (view on Google Sidewiki)

Thursday 28 January 2010

Chileans Still Stuck In Peru After Landslides

Machu Picchu where the landslides and floods occurred.

Over 2,000 tourists — including 310 Chileans — were stuck near the Inca ruins after landslides and floods blocked all transit connecting the 7,000 ft Inca ruins with the city of Cusco. Five people were killed, including an Argentine tourist and a tour-guide. Buildings, homes and crops across the Cusco area were destroyed.

The stranded Chileans have loudly complained about the slow evacuation process, with some insinuating that Peruvian officials have discriminated against them.

Evacuations from the Aguas Calientes area adjacent to Machu Picchu area began Wednesday with Peruvian officials giving top priority to those older than 60 and children with their mothers. The evacuation fleet included seven private Peruvian helicopters and four from the US embassy. People on the private helicopters had to pay for their ride.

Travelers stranded in the isolated Machu Picchu village had limited supplies, and many had to sleep at the train station because the hotels were full.

Was it my multi-blogged moan?

Was it my multi-blogged moan that un-locked my new blog http://sequels-and-trilogies.blogspot.com/ ?
I know that blogger took the full 20 days to un-lock a blog of a friend of mine. Now his block WAS highly political but there should be no difference.
Perhaps it was my genuine threat to move to wordpress?

Who knows?

Thank You blogger for acting quickly

Bob de Bilde

in reference to: Prequels, Sequels & Trilogies (view on Google Sidewiki)

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Bob de Bilde gets his 15 minutes of fame...

on IS A C*NT...

http://isacunt.blogspot.com/2010/01/bob-de-bilde.html

Thanks to GOT & the crew

in reference to: Bob De Bilde (view on Google Sidewiki)

My Disgust at Blogger

Blogger has marked one of my blogs (Prequels, Sequels & Trilogies) as spam...

It will be deleted within 20 days if I do not lodge a review

WTF Blogger... I am seriously considering moving all my blogs to the more versatile Wordpress !

I am reposting this on ALL my other open blogs using the sidewikibar thingy!!!

in reference to: My Sony Ericsson Sucks: My Disgust at Blogger (view on Google Sidewiki)