Concerns about Landslides, Dec. 16

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the south central Oregon coast and central Douglas County through Saturday morning. The watch includes the north and south fork of the Coquille River near Myrtle Point, and the cities of Coos Bay, Coquille, Port Orford, Powers, Reedsport, Roseburg, Camas Valley and Glide. Track this flood watch here: http://1.usa.gov/1NvvBQt “Landslides can be triggered by intense rainfall,” says Bill Burns, engineering geologist at the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). “Be aware of the potential landslide and debris flow hazard during this storm, and travel with caution.” Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can easily travel a mile or more, depending on the terrain. They will transport boulders and logs in a fast-moving soil and water slurry. People, structures and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk. Caution should be used when traveling. According to DOGAMI, the most 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. Learn more about landslides and debris flows and how to prepare for them: Statewide Landslide Information Database (SLIDO): www.oregongeology.org/slido Landslide and debris flow resources: bit.ly/landslidehazards.