Landslides — Get Prepared
Landslides can happen without warning, and can occur in all regions of Canada.
How to prepare before a landslide
You can protect yourself and your household by understanding this natural hazard and by following basic steps.
- Prepare your emergency kit. Learn more about what items to put in your kit, including quick and easy steps you can take right away
- Make a household emergency plan. Consider the specific needs of all members of your household, including older adults, children, pets, and anyone with special health needs
- Stay informed of weather conditions and advisories in your area
- Limit the time that you spend in potential landslide areas, specifically during periods of fast snow melt or heavy rainfall
- Never stop your vehicle in a section of highway that has been marked as a landslide zone
- Be aware of when landslides are more likely to happen, such as during periods of heavy rainfall, fast snowmelt, or changes in temperature from below freezing to above freezing
- Learn how to recognize signs of potential slope failure including
- slope cracks and cracks at the top of a slope
- slope bulges
- unusual seepage of water on the slope
- small rock or sediment falls
- cracks in pavement
- structures moving or tilting away
Prepare your home
- Avoid actions that would make slopes unstable
- Do not undercut a steep bank
- Do not build near the top or base of steep slopes
- Do not place fill on steep slopes
- Do not drain pools or otherwise increase water flow down steep slopes
- Learn about whether your area may be at risk of a landslide. Look out for
- existing old landslides
- steep slopes
- drainage channels on steep slopes
- streams and riverbanks
- coastal cliffs
- Know who to notify if you recognize these signs (find a local municipal contact or ask an expert to conduct an inspection such as a geotechnical engineer)
- Regularly inspect your residence, especially after heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, long dry spells, and earthquakes
During a landslide
Keep clear of falling debris
If you are outdoors during a landslide, move quickly away from its likely path. Keep clear of embankments, trees, power lines, and poles.
If you are indoors during a landslide, leave immediately if you can safely do so. If you cannot safely leave the building, find cover in the section of the building that is furthest away from the approaching landslide, take shelter under a strong table or bench, and hold on until all movement has stopped.
If you are caught in a landslide with no option to evacuate to safety, curl in a tight ball and protect your head and neck.
Leave the area immediately if you observe the following
- A faint rumbling sound that increases in volume
- Unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together
After a landslide
- Stay alert for future landslides
- Stay away from the landslide area until authorities have inspected it
- Stay away from broken utilities such as electricity and gas line
- Take photos of landslide damage in case you need them for insurance purposes
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