AMU Emergency Management Original Public Safety

Risk Management and the Southern California Landslides

By Allison G. S. Knox
Contributor, EDM Digest

Southern California is the land of beautiful beaches, warm temperatures and almost perpetual sunshine. The weather is one reason why so many people choose to live there.

Because of its geographic landscape, Southern California rarely experiences hurricanes, but the state is struck by earthquakes from time to time. Also, because its landscape is very dry, wildfires are a seasonal phenomenon.

Heavy Storms in Southern California Create Dangerous Mudslides and Unstable Soil

The lack of rain makes wildfires in Southern California even more problematic for risk managers. The damage from wildfires results in dangerous mudslides when significant rainstorms follow the fire.

The January 2005 Conchita landslide, which occurred 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles, killed 10 people and destroyed 36 homes.

In June 2005, the rains were so excessive that they led to landslides in Bluebird Canyon of Laguna Beach. As a result, there was serious damage to particularly expensive real estate.

Last week, California experienced another bout of heavy rain. NBC News reported that several homes in the Hollywood Hills were evacuated because of “unpredictable shifting soil.”

Emergency Managers Must Consider Risk and Expense when Planning Mitigation Efforts

Budgets and mitigation practices are expensive, especially when disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires and mudslides are not frequent occurrences. Consequently, emergency managers carefully weigh the risks of certain disasters to figure out what — if any — mitigation efforts are needed.

Regardless of the catalyst, landslides are an important disaster management consideration, and Southern California has a landslide mitigation effort in place. What’s intriguing, however, is that the effort is linked to earthquakes rather than to the more prevalent aftermath of heavy rains.

Risk Management versus the Likelihood of Natural Disasters

While significant rainfall in Southern California creates dangerous situations, mudslides don’t happen on a regular basis. Mitigation efforts for earthquake-related landslides, however, can be justified, considering how often seismic shocks occur in California.

To its credit, the state has created the Southern California Earthquake Center. It specifically reviews the potential for landslides and makes mitigation recommendations based on regular studies of the area.

While extensive damage from natural disasters can be reduced through good risk management and mitigation, disasters will continue to happen. Landslides will continue in Southern California after heavy rains. It is hoped that any damage associated with them will be minimal, as the recommendations that Southern California mitigation teams make are substantive and effective.

 

Allison G.S. Knox

Allison G. S. Knox teaches in the fire science and emergency management departments at the University. Focusing on emergency management and emergency medical services policy, she often writes and advocates about these issues. Allison works as an Intermittent Emergency Management Specialist in the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. She also serves as the At-Large Director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Chancellor of the Southeast Region on the Board of Trustees with Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, chair of Pi Gamma Mu’s Leadership Development Program and Assistant Editor for the International Journal of Paramedicine. Prior to teaching, Allison worked for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in a Level One trauma center emergency department. She is an emergency medical technician and holds five master’s degrees.

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