Landslide Assessments, Situational Awareness, and Event Response Research (LASER)
Active
By Landslide Hazards Program
November 8, 2023
Landslide crises can unfold in many ways, but in all cases, responders and the public need information about what happened and what might happen next as soon as possible.
The LASER project seeks to provide event-driven information products and assessments for landslide events to help guide decision-making and inform the public. The project also conducts research and development aimed towards improving our capacity to rapidly detect, map, monitor, and characterize landslide hazards.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
2025 Tracy Arm Landslide-Generated Tsunami
A landslide above the toe of the South Sawyer Glacier failed into the waters of Tracy Arm, south of Juneau, Alaska, producing a tsunami on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, at 05:26 AKDT / 13:26 UTC. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. This page may be updated as more information about the event is obtained. Steep, mountainous landslide areas are inherently unstable and will continue to change...
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...
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...
Preliminary Analysis of Satellite Imagery and Seismic Observations of the Nuugaatsiaq Landslide and Tsunami, Greenland
Disclaimer This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely science to assess ongoing hazards. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized...
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
Release Date: MAY 25, 2016 The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche, Colorado, May 25, 2014
Landslide crises can unfold in many ways, but in all cases, responders and the public need information about what happened and what might happen next as soon as possible.
The LASER project seeks to provide event-driven information products and assessments for landslide events to help guide decision-making and inform the public. The project also conducts research and development aimed towards improving our capacity to rapidly detect, map, monitor, and characterize landslide hazards.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
2025 Tracy Arm Landslide-Generated Tsunami
A landslide above the toe of the South Sawyer Glacier failed into the waters of Tracy Arm, south of Juneau, Alaska, producing a tsunami on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, at 05:26 AKDT / 13:26 UTC. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. This page may be updated as more information about the event is obtained. Steep, mountainous landslide areas are inherently unstable and will continue to change...
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...
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...
Preliminary Analysis of Satellite Imagery and Seismic Observations of the Nuugaatsiaq Landslide and Tsunami, Greenland
Disclaimer This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely science to assess ongoing hazards. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized...
Reconstruction of an Avalanche: The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche
Release Date: MAY 25, 2016 The West Salt Creek Rock Avalanche, Colorado, May 25, 2014