AT The Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction outlines a ten-year strategy crafted by the National Science and Technology Council’s

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; permafrost
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.212.4682; http://www.usgs.gov/sndr/185820_Landslide_FINAL.pdf

Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction (SDR). It sets forth six Grand Challenges that, when addressed, will enhance community resilience to disasters and thus create a more disaster-resilient Nation. These Grand Challenges require sustained Federal investment as well as collaborations with state and local governments, professional societies and trade associations, the private sector, academia, and the international community to successfully transfer disaster reduction science and technology into common use. To meet these Challenges, the SDR has identified priority science and technology interagency implementation actions by hazard that build upon ongoing efforts. Addressing these implementation actions will improve America’s capacity to prevent and recover from disasters, thus fulfilling our Nation’s commitment to reducing the impacts of all hazards and enhancing the safety and economic well-being of every individual and community. This is the landslide and debris flow-specific implementation plan. See also sdr.gov for other hazard-specific implementation plans. What is at Stake? DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND. Landslides are triggered by a number of mechanisms, including intense rainstorms and earthquakes, wildland fire, coastal erosion, and the loss of permafrost in arctic regions. The most dangerous landslides are debris flows where slope material becomes saturated with water resulting in a slurry of rock and mud picking up trees, houses, and cars, thus, at times, blocking bridges and tributaries, causing flooding along its path. IMPACTS. Landslides, debris flows, and other forms of ground failure affect communities in every state of the Nation. Despite advances in science and technology, these events continue to result in human suffering, billions of dollars in property losses, and environmental degradation every year. 1 Approximately two-thirds of the United States population lives in counties where landslide susceptibility is moderate to high. 2 N