news 
The U.S. is spending $1 million to mitigate landslides on the rise
In a bid to prevent loss of life and economic damage, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has awarded grants worth $1 million to ten states in FY2024 to focus on landslide mitigation and emergency preparedness. The funded projects will help identify landslide-prone areas, improve warning systems for flash floods and debris flows, and provide rapid response resources.
The funds are part of the National Landslide Preparedness Act passed in 2021, which aims to develop a national strategy for reducing landslide hazards and lowering risks. This initiative underscores the growing concern over the devastating impact of landslides on human lives and infrastructure.
Utah is one of the states that has received funding to map out an inventory of potential landslide sites in mountain areas along the Wasatch Front, where urban housing is increasingly encroaching on foothill and lower mountain canyon areas. The focus on early warning systems will also be enhanced by this project.
According to FEMA statistics, over 100 people have lost their lives in California alone due to landslides and mud flows over the past 25 years. Many of these deaths occurred when debris flows buried people sleeping in bedrooms adjacent to hazardous slopes.
Source: www.forbes.com
