(Left) Map of Puerto Rico showing study area location (red box), the oceanographic buoys (orange triangles), and the track of María with eye timing and locations (black dots) in 6-hour increments and the wind radii of 64-knot winds (gray circular outlines).
In September 2017 Hurricane María triggered more than 70,000 landslides across Puerto Rico that caused loss of life and widespread damage to transportation, communication, and power-supply infrastructure, and to other public and private property.
Reduction of Hazards from Intense Rainfall-Induced Landslides in Puerto Rico

To help to reduce the hazards from future landslide events, the USGS Landslide Hazards Project (LHP) and their partners are performing a 3.5-year-long study that will improve understanding of landslides in Puerto Rico and methods for spatially and temporally forecasting landslide occurrence. More specifically, the LHP is leveraging advances in remote sensing (primarily lidar, InSAR, and optical imagery), laboratory testing, and field observation, monitoring, testing, and data collection to map, characterize, and analyze landslides throughout Puerto Rico. These studies will improve understanding of where and when landslides are most likely, which is of critical importance, but also the characteristics of landslides as they form and move downslope; most landslides in Puerto Rico display long travel distances making them hazardous far from their initiation sites. Led by partners at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, the USGS has published an inventory of landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria and an island-wide map depicting susceptibility to intense rainfall-induced landslides that was developed using the inventory and analyses of multiple factors contributing to landslide occurrence. The LHP also continues development of state-of-the-science tools for modeling and forecasting where landslides are likely to occur, and where they are likely to travel after occurrence. Models are being developed and tested using input obtained from our remote sensing, field, and laboratory studies. Following validation, models will be applied to create landslide susceptibility maps for areas having highest priority for landslide hazard reduction.
For More Information
- Other USGS science activities and research in Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico Landslide Hazard Mitigation Project - Natural Hazards Center
- Puerto Rico Landslide Susceptibility Tool - English
- Puerto Rico Mapa De Susceptibilidad A Deslizamientos De Tierra Aplicación Web - Spanish
- SLIDES-PR: Storm-induced Landslide Impact Dynamics on Environment and Society in Puerto Rico (Hughes UPRM Geology)
- Have you thought about what would happen if your property were affected by a landslide? (Natural Hazards Center)
- ¿Has pensado qué pasaría si tu propiedad fuera afectada por un deslizamiento de tierra? (Natural Hazards Center)
Puerto Rico Landslide Hazard Mitigation Project
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in the greater karst region of northwest Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in four study areas in the Utuado Municipality, Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in a section of Naranjito, Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in three study areas in the Lares Municipality, Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in four study areas of Puerto Rico
Infiltration data collected post-Hurricane Maria across landslide source area materials, Puerto Rico, USA
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

(Left) Map of Puerto Rico showing study area location (red box), the oceanographic buoys (orange triangles), and the track of María with eye timing and locations (black dots) in 6-hour increments and the wind radii of 64-knot winds (gray circular outlines).

USGS ground failure experts examine landslides after Hurricane Maria in the municipality of Las Marias, Puerto Rico.
USGS ground failure experts examine landslides after Hurricane Maria in the municipality of Las Marias, Puerto Rico.

An aerial view of landslide damage after Hurricane Maria in Utuado municipality, Puerto Rico.
An aerial view of landslide damage after Hurricane Maria in Utuado municipality, Puerto Rico.
Rapid sensitivity analysis for reducing uncertainty in landslide hazard assessments
Hillslopes in humid-tropical climates aren’t always wet: Implications for hydrologic response and landslide initiation in Puerto Rico, USA
Mobility characteristics of landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Map depicting susceptibility to landslides triggered by intense rainfall, Puerto Rico
Debris-flow growth in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria: Preliminary results from analyses of pre- and post-event lidar data
Landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria: Assessment of an extreme event in Puerto Rico
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are FAQ associated with this project.
What is a landslide and what causes one?
Can major landslides and debris flows happen in all areas of the U.S.?
What is the difference between a landslide advisory, a landslide watch, and a landslide warning?
What is a debris flow?
What is a landslide hazard map?
Do human activities cause landslides?
Under what circumstances do U.S. Geological Survey landslide personnel conduct field work in landslide-prone areas?
In September 2017 Hurricane María triggered more than 70,000 landslides across Puerto Rico that caused loss of life and widespread damage to transportation, communication, and power-supply infrastructure, and to other public and private property.
Reduction of Hazards from Intense Rainfall-Induced Landslides in Puerto Rico

To help to reduce the hazards from future landslide events, the USGS Landslide Hazards Project (LHP) and their partners are performing a 3.5-year-long study that will improve understanding of landslides in Puerto Rico and methods for spatially and temporally forecasting landslide occurrence. More specifically, the LHP is leveraging advances in remote sensing (primarily lidar, InSAR, and optical imagery), laboratory testing, and field observation, monitoring, testing, and data collection to map, characterize, and analyze landslides throughout Puerto Rico. These studies will improve understanding of where and when landslides are most likely, which is of critical importance, but also the characteristics of landslides as they form and move downslope; most landslides in Puerto Rico display long travel distances making them hazardous far from their initiation sites. Led by partners at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez, the USGS has published an inventory of landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria and an island-wide map depicting susceptibility to intense rainfall-induced landslides that was developed using the inventory and analyses of multiple factors contributing to landslide occurrence. The LHP also continues development of state-of-the-science tools for modeling and forecasting where landslides are likely to occur, and where they are likely to travel after occurrence. Models are being developed and tested using input obtained from our remote sensing, field, and laboratory studies. Following validation, models will be applied to create landslide susceptibility maps for areas having highest priority for landslide hazard reduction.
For More Information
- Other USGS science activities and research in Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico Landslide Hazard Mitigation Project - Natural Hazards Center
- Puerto Rico Landslide Susceptibility Tool - English
- Puerto Rico Mapa De Susceptibilidad A Deslizamientos De Tierra Aplicación Web - Spanish
- SLIDES-PR: Storm-induced Landslide Impact Dynamics on Environment and Society in Puerto Rico (Hughes UPRM Geology)
- Have you thought about what would happen if your property were affected by a landslide? (Natural Hazards Center)
- ¿Has pensado qué pasaría si tu propiedad fuera afectada por un deslizamiento de tierra? (Natural Hazards Center)
Puerto Rico Landslide Hazard Mitigation Project
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in the greater karst region of northwest Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in four study areas in the Utuado Municipality, Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in a section of Naranjito, Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in three study areas in the Lares Municipality, Puerto Rico
Map data from landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in four study areas of Puerto Rico
Infiltration data collected post-Hurricane Maria across landslide source area materials, Puerto Rico, USA
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

(Left) Map of Puerto Rico showing study area location (red box), the oceanographic buoys (orange triangles), and the track of María with eye timing and locations (black dots) in 6-hour increments and the wind radii of 64-knot winds (gray circular outlines).
(Left) Map of Puerto Rico showing study area location (red box), the oceanographic buoys (orange triangles), and the track of María with eye timing and locations (black dots) in 6-hour increments and the wind radii of 64-knot winds (gray circular outlines).

USGS ground failure experts examine landslides after Hurricane Maria in the municipality of Las Marias, Puerto Rico.
USGS ground failure experts examine landslides after Hurricane Maria in the municipality of Las Marias, Puerto Rico.

An aerial view of landslide damage after Hurricane Maria in Utuado municipality, Puerto Rico.
An aerial view of landslide damage after Hurricane Maria in Utuado municipality, Puerto Rico.
Rapid sensitivity analysis for reducing uncertainty in landslide hazard assessments
Hillslopes in humid-tropical climates aren’t always wet: Implications for hydrologic response and landslide initiation in Puerto Rico, USA
Mobility characteristics of landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Map depicting susceptibility to landslides triggered by intense rainfall, Puerto Rico
Debris-flow growth in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria: Preliminary results from analyses of pre- and post-event lidar data
Landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria: Assessment of an extreme event in Puerto Rico
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are FAQ associated with this project.