Landslide Danger, Dec. 21

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for 7 p.m. Monday through Tuesday afternoon for areas of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. The watch area in Oregon includes the greater Portland metro area, the central and south Willamette Valley, the northwest coast range and north coast, the central coast range and central coast, and the lower Columbia. In southwest Washington, the watch area includes the greater Vancouver area and the I-5 corridor, and the south coast and Willapa hills in Cowlitz County. Track flood watches here: http://1.usa.gov/1EM7qNl   “Heavy rain can trigger landslides,” says Ali Ryan Hansen, communications director for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). “Landslides and debris flows are possible during this weather, so be aware of the potential hazard.” Avoiding areas where landslides are more likely to occur is an important safety step, Hansen says. DOGAMI’s interactive SLIDO map offers a look at landslide hazards, and is a useful tool for identifying areas that are susceptible to landslides. The map is online at: www.oregongeology.org/slido  People, structures and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk. In general, dangerous places include:  – Canyon bottoms, stream channels, and areas of rock and soil accumulation at the outlets of canyons. – Bases of steep hillsides. – Road cuts or other areas where slopes of hills have been excavated or over-steepened. – Places where slides or debris flows have occurred in the past. For more landslide and debris flow information: http://bit.ly/landslidehazards