Bolderdash: November 2009

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.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Cockermouth flooding damage

Following the recent devastation in Cockermouth, Cumbria, I publish two photographs of the main shopping area there.

From thr BBCi website:

The main shopping street here in Cockermouth is still largely under water, but at one end of the road the water is receding.

On Saturday morning, some of those whose businesses had been flooded tried to get into their premises to check the extent of the damage, wearing wellies and waterproofs.

Piers Tupman had to give the door of Milburns Solicitors a hard shove to get it open.

Inside, everything is covered in a layer of thick brown mud.

There are holes in the wall and desks have been pushed against the wall by the power of the water.

"I've got to come and try to salvage what I can, we have important documents that need to be saved. People will still expect their legal work to be done," he said.

A few doors down, the shop Knitting Fever has lost its front window, pushed in by the water.

Wool is strewn across the pavement. Tangled up in it are branches, shop display units and even the till. The sounds of alarms still going off is audible.

'Let's get out'

A few miles away, those who have had to evacuate their homes are being put up in a local attraction called the Sheep and Wool Centre.

One large room is full of makeshift beds. Below it, the centre's cafe holds dozens of people, sitting around drinking cups of tea and watching the news on a large television.

Sitting together are Dorothy Forrester, 79, and Marian Stalker 83. On Thursday morning they were given 10 minutes' notice to leave their home.

They say they only had time to grab an extra set of clothes and their medication. They know it could be weeks before they go home.

Mrs Stalker tells me she has just had her flat decorated. "It was beautiful and expensive and I just thought 'let's get out'."

Mrs Forrester adds: "You can't do anything other can you? It's in the best interest of everyone.

"We've been very well looked after here and they say this is a one in 1,000-year event, so we are going down in history."