USGS-landslides.20121029T200558 fashland@usgs.gov 20121029T200558.000Z Actual Update Public en-US Geo Hurricane Sandy Expected Moderate Possible Francis X. Ashland (USGS) in cooperation with the State Geologists in the affected area USGS Issues Landslide Alert for Hurricane Sandy Forecasted heavy rainfall, including likely intense periods of precipitation, may trigger landslides on coastal bluffs, moderate to steep slopes, and locally elsewhere on landslide-prone slopes in Maryland, northern Delaware, northeastern Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania. Some landslides may be damaging and/or pose a threat to life safety and critical infrastructure. The most likely type of landslide triggered by this event will be shallow landslides on coastal bluffs in the Chesapeake Bay area and adjoining estuaries. In addition, some areas in the forecast area contain landslides that were caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 that have not yet been stabilized. The forecasted rainfall amounts may lead to elevated pore-water pressures that cause reactivation of some landslides or a temporary acceleration in the velocity of movement. Movement of shallow landslides is most likely to initiate during periods of intense rainfall, but movement of deeper landslides may be delayed as pore-water pressures rise in response to the rainfall. Managers with critical infrastructure or facilities in known landslide hazard areas should make assessments and take appropriate measures, as necessary, to reduce losses in advance of the arrival of the predicted heavy rainfall. Periodic inspections of slope conditions on and adjacent to critical infrastructure, as feasible, are recommended during and after periods of heavy rainfall. http://landslides.usgs.gov/ Ed Harp, harp@usgs.gov, 303-273-8557, cell: 303-669-0371