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In many hot and humid climates, there’s a lot more to worry about than scorching heat and beads of moisture. Just ask the folks who live in and around La Guaira, Venezuela.
Not long ago, a massive mudslide annihilated the residents of this lush coastal region on the Caribbean Sea. According to government officials, as many as 35,000 people vanished when a huge river of mud and boulders swept down from the mountain above, making it the worst natural disaster to hit the country in more than a century.
What caused the calamity? When water from unusually heavy and persistent rain collected faster than it could drain on top of a slope, the underlying mass of earth and rock became unstable and plunged to the floor of an adjacent valley, picking up rocks, trees, houses, and cars along the way.
In this case, and, indeed, many others, the mudslide was, at least in part, directly attributed to excessive logging and building haphazard housing on extremely steep mountain slopes. Similar noxious acts of nature can occur on any flat swath of land bordered by hills or mountains. In fact, thousands of people from various parts of the world die every year from such sudden and unexpected disasters.
On top of the casualties, mudslides often cause great destruction across wide swaths of land, snapping trees, knocking down power lines, and destroying ramshackle huts. They also demolish roads and bridges and pollute drinking water, making overland travel nearly impossible and creating a variety of public health hazards like hepatitis and cholera.
And that’s just the beginning. In the days following a mudslide, emergency crews and other volunteers work around the clock searching for people buried under huge avalanches of rubble and sun-baked mud. In addition to building new homes and replanting the area, those who survive must wait in long lines for hours to acquire food, medicine, drinking water, and other important staples.
In nearly every corner of the globe, mudslides are a part of everyday life, with some areas more vulnerable than others. Most occur as a result of, among other things, erosion, heavy rain, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or blasting operations. Early warning signs include faint rumbling sounds, abnormally sticky doors and windows, and new cracks or bulges in walls, driveways, and pavement.
What follows is a brief list of what emergency management professionals recommend you do if you suspect a mudslide may be headed toward your area.
Call your local police or fire department.
Alert your neighbors.
If you are told to evacuate, do so quickly.
Devise and review an evacuation plan with the rest of your family.
Verify emergency phone numbers, including an out of state contact to reach should you be separated from your family.
Don’t drive unless it is absolutely necessary.
Listen to local news reports and emergency broadcasts.
If you’re indoors, take cover immediately.
If you’re outside, seek higher ground.
Stockpile emergency supplies (flashlights, non-perishable food, drinking water, a manual can opener, a battery-powered radio, extra blankets and warm clothes, alternative heating and cooking sources, etc.).
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