By Gordon Williams: Northwest Region Volunteer

“Landslides have occurred in almost every state and can cause significant damage,” says the American Red Cross. If you live in Washington state you know how true that is. The state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proclaims Washington as one of America’s most landslide prone states.

The nation’s most deadly landslide ever is the one that killed 43 people in Oso WA in 2014. This year, torrential rains that soaked Washington in early December raised the danger of more slides to come. A slide triggered by the storm produced no fatalities but halted all rail service between Seattle and Portland for a day.

So landslides are a fact in life in Washington and they can cause destruction and even death. How do you live with them? How can you tell when a slide is building, and how do you protect yourself when the ground starts to move? As it happens, there is plenty of material on how to cope with landslides published by the Red Cross and the state DNR.

First step in surviving a landslide is measuring your risk of being caught in one.

“Landslides generally happen in areas where they have occurred in the past,” says the Red Cross.

Neighbors should know about past landslides in your neighborhood. Check with the Fire Department and your county office of emergency management. The Department of Natural Resources has local offices in Forks, Castle Rock, Sedro Woolley, Enumclaw, Ellensberg and Colville, plus the state headquarters in Olympia.

Do some investigating of your own. The risk is greatest if you live at the top or bottom of a steep slope. Is the slope well covered by foliage or is it bare — perhaps burned bare by a summer wildfire? Is it common for dirt and rocks to come loose and slide down the hill? A stream running down hill adds to the risk. All risk factors are multiplied if you have received heavy rain recently.

Be alert to warning signs of a slide in the making, especially if there has been recent heavy rain.

“Stay awake and alert if it is storming,” says the DNR. “Many deaths from landslides occur while people are sleeping.”

Here are the specific warning signs from the DNR of slides about to happen:

• Ground that previously was dry but has turned wet, with water running down the slope or piling up in pools of standing water
• Cracks or bulges in the ground
• Utility poles and fences that are sagging
• Trees that stood upright but now appear to be sagging
• Windows and doors that once opened freely but are now sticking, and cracks that begin showing up in the walls, ceiling or foundation
• Evidence that water, sewer or gas lines are broken or leaking
• You hear strange sounds, which may be boulders knocking together or trees cracking. Prepare to evacuate quickly if the sounds seem to be getting louder.

Keep close watch on a stream or channel if you live near running water. The Red Cross warns, “Be alert for any increase or decrease in water flow and notice whether the water changes from clear to muddy. Such changes may mean there is debris flow activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly.”

Plan ahead if you live in a landslide zone. Listen to weather forecasts and be extra cautious if the forecast is for heavy rain. Know ahead of time if any local agency monitors the risk of landslides and what plans the agency has to warn you of a slide in the making.

If you detect signs of a landslide, notify the local authorities at once. Listen to your radio for emergency messages and evacuation orders. If you are ordered to evacuate because a slide is possible, get out at once. Do your best to warn neighbors of the danger, especially any that are infirm or disabled and may need help reaching safety.

If you detect signs of a slide building up, don't wait for official warning — get out and get out fast. Never count on being able to ride out a slide in your home.

“Landslides are dangerous, unpredictable and can occur rapidly,” says the DNR. “A landslide can easily destroy or bury a car or house.”

If you must escape, head toward flat ground that isn't likely to slide in a storm. When you do evacuate, watch out for flooded roads. Debris from the slide can plug up streams and rivers, causing water to spill out over highways. When you return home, check for downed utility wires and for cracks in your walls and foundation that make your home too dangerous to enter.

For more information about landslides and how to prepare or deal with them, click here. You can also download the Red Cross Landslide Safety Checklist here.