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Landslide Hazards Program

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

News

USGS Seeks Landslide Risk Reduction Proposals (FY25)

USGS Seeks Landslide Risk Reduction Proposals (FY25)

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards

USGS landslide event team activated in wake of Hurricane Helene

USGS landslide event team activated in wake of Hurricane Helene

Publications

Parsimonious high-resolution landslide susceptibility modeling at continental scales

Landslide susceptibility maps are fundamental tools for risk reduction, but the coarse resolution of current continental-scale models is insufficient for local application. Complex relations between topographic and environmental attributes characterizing landslide susceptibility at local scales are not transferrable across areas without landslide data. Existing maps with multiple susceptibility cl
Authors
Benjamin B. Mirus, Gina Marie Belair, Nathan J. Wood, Jeanne M. Jones, Sabrina N. Martinez

RegionGrow3D: A deterministic analysis for characterizing discrete three-dimensional landslide source areas on a regional scale

Regional-scale characterization of shallow landslide hazards is important for reducing their destructive impact on society. These hazards are commonly characterized by (a) their location and likelihood using susceptibility maps, (b) landslide size and frequency using geomorphic scaling laws, and (c) the magnitude of disturbance required to cause landslides using initiation thresholds. Typically, t
Authors
Nicolas Wahde Mathews, Ben Leshchinksy, Benjamin B. Mirus, Michael J. Olsen, Adam M. Booth

Postfire sediment mobilization and its downstream implications across California, 1984 – 2021

Fire facilitates erosion through changes in vegetation and soil, with major postfire erosion commonly occurring even with moderate rainfall. As climate warms, the western United States (U.S.) is experiencing an intensifying fire regime and increasing frequency of extreme rain. We evaluated whether these hydroclimatic changes are evident in patterns of postfire erosion by modeling hillslope erosion
Authors
Helen Willemien Dow, Amy E. East, Joel B. Sankey, Jonathan Warrick, Jaime Kostelnik, Donald N. Lindsay, Jason W. Kean

Science

2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards

Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall. This...
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2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards

Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall. This...
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2024 Pedersen Lagoon Landslide-Generated Tsunami

A landslide produced a tsunami in Pedersen Lagoon, southwest of Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, at approximately 04:55 AKDT / 12:55 UTC. Preliminary surveying indicates that the landslide generated a tsunami of 17 meters high (approx. 56 ft) or more in Upper Pedersen Lagoon, reducing to about one meter high (approx. 3 feet) in Lower Pedersen Lagoon. Runup heights reported here are...
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2024 Pedersen Lagoon Landslide-Generated Tsunami

A landslide produced a tsunami in Pedersen Lagoon, southwest of Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, at approximately 04:55 AKDT / 12:55 UTC. Preliminary surveying indicates that the landslide generated a tsunami of 17 meters high (approx. 56 ft) or more in Upper Pedersen Lagoon, reducing to about one meter high (approx. 3 feet) in Lower Pedersen Lagoon. Runup heights reported here are...
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Landslide Basics

Landslides occur in all 50 states and territories and they affect lives, property, infrastructure, and the environment. Understanding when, where, and how landslides occur can help to reduce the risk of living with these natural hazards.
link

Landslide Basics

Landslides occur in all 50 states and territories and they affect lives, property, infrastructure, and the environment. Understanding when, where, and how landslides occur can help to reduce the risk of living with these natural hazards.
Learn More

Multimedia

Damage caused by mudflows into Flat Creek near the Garren Creek Fire Station. Some of the initiating landslides are visible in the distance, upper left of photo.
Damage caused by mudflows into Flat Creek near the Garren Creek Fire Station. - 10/17/2024
Damage caused by mudflows into Flat Creek near the Garren Creek Fire Station. - 10/17/2024
Aerial view of landslide amongst green trees
Damage caused by a large mudflow in Buck Creek near Marion, NC. - 10/17/2024
Damage caused by a large mudflow in Buck Creek near Marion, NC. - 10/17/2024
Aerial view of landslide amongst green trees
A landslide near Vilas, NC. - 10/13/2024
A landslide near Vilas, NC. - 10/13/2024
Aerial view of landslide amongst green trees in the mountains
Multiple landslides and mudflows in Bat Cave, NC. - 10/13/2024
Multiple landslides and mudflows in Bat Cave, NC. - 10/13/2024
Aerial view of landslide and flood damage of rural neighborhood in the mountains
Landslide and flood damage near Zionville, NC. - 10/13/2024
Landslide and flood damage near Zionville, NC. - 10/13/2024
Screenshot of the Hurricane Helene Landslide Observations Dashboard on 10/2/2024 showing 109 flagged landslides and 125 total
10/3/2024 Screenshot of Hurricane Helene Landslide Observations Dashboard
10/3/2024 Screenshot of Hurricane Helene Landslide Observations Dashboard
Map of the Hurricane Helene landslide hazard estimates with the highest hazard being around the mountains.
Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazard Estimate Map
Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazard Estimate Map
national landslide susceptibility map infographic
National Landslide Susceptibility Map Infographic
National Landslide Susceptibility Map Infographic
postfire debris flow science infographic
Postfire Debris Flow Science Infographic
Postfire Debris Flow Science Infographic
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