Burned Slopes Raise Landslide Risk for Years, Go if Unsafe
Ready.gov, the U.S. government's preparedness website, says that when a wildfire burns a slope, it increases the chance of landslides for several years; leave if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home. Ready.gov also says that by the time you are sure a debris flow is coming, it will be too late to get away safely, and evacuation often is the only way to protect lives from a debris flow or other fast-moving landslide.
Ready.gov says landslides occur in all U.S. states and territories and can be caused by earthquakes, storms, volcanic eruptions, fire and human modifications of land; the most dangerous and deadliest are the ones that occur quickly, often with little notice. This article follows Ready.gov's landslides and debris flow page: how to prepare, warning signs, what to do during a landslide, and what to watch for afterward.
Before a landslide
Ready.gov explains (Ready.gov, Landslides and Debris Flow):
- Kit and plan: Build an emergency kit, and make a household plan that includes your pets so your family knows what to do and where to go in a landslide.
- Alerts: Sign up for your community's warning system; the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide alerts.
- Evacuating: Leave if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home; text SHELTER plus your ZIP code to 43362 to find the nearest shelter (for example, shelter 12345).
- Your home: Consult a professional about preventive measures, such as flexible pipe fittings that resist breakage better, and protect your property based on advice from a qualified geotechnical professional or local city or county guidance.
- You can't stop a debris flow: You can't stop or change the path of a debris flow, but you may be able to protect your property from floodwaters or mud with sandbags, retaining walls or k-rails; you may be liable for damages if you divert a flow onto a neighbor's property.
- Insurance: Talk to your insurance agent if you are at risk from a landslide; debris flow may be covered by flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Warning signs
- Wildfire burn areas: If you are near a wildfire burn area, sign up for emergency alerts and pay attention to weather forecasts for the burn area.
- Sounds and water: Listen and watch for rushing water, mud or unusual sounds; sounds like trees cracking or boulders knocking together might indicate moving debris, and a faint rumbling that grows louder is noticeable as the landslide nears.
- Slow-moving landslides: Doors or windows stick or jam for the first time; new cracks appear in plaster, tile, brick or foundations; outside walls, walkways or stairs begin pulling away from the building; cracks in the ground or pavement slowly widen; underground utility lines break; bulging ground appears at the base of a slope; water breaks through the ground in new places; fences, retaining walls, utility poles or trees tilt or move.
During a landslide
- Listen for warnings: Listen to local news on a battery-powered radio, and always follow the instructions of local emergency managers.
- Stay awake: Stay alert and awake during a storm that could cause a landslide; Ready.gov says many deaths from landslides occur while people are sleeping.
- Don't cross roads or bridges: Never cross a road with water or mud flowing, and never cross a bridge if you see a flow approaching.
- Go uphill: If you get stuck in the path of a landslide, move uphill as quickly as possible.
- Avoid low areas: Avoid river valleys and low-lying areas during times of danger.
- Changes in streams: Near a stream or channel, watch for a sudden increase or decrease in water flow or water that changes from clear to muddy; these can be signs a landslide is coming.
After a landslide
- Stay away: Stay away from the slide area; more slides may follow.
- Watch for flooding: Floods sometimes follow landslides and debris flows.
- Trapped people: Check for injured and trapped persons near the slide without entering the slide area, and direct rescuers to them.
- Report: Report broken utility lines and damaged roads and railways to the appropriate authorities.
- Your home: Let trained professionals check the foundation, chimney and surrounding land for damage.
- Replant: Replant damaged ground as soon as possible, since erosion from lost ground cover can lead to flash flooding and more landslides.
For what to do when a wildfire evacuation order comes, see Wildfires, Evacuate When Told, Keep an N95, Check AirNow; for protecting yourself in an earthquake, see In a Quake, Drop, Cover, Hold On, Secure Heavy Items First; for getting FEMA alerts and finding shelters on your phone, see Free FEMA App Alerts for 5 Places, Texts Find Shelters.
What this article did not check
- Risk near your home: Ready.gov links to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) landslide program; this article did not check local risk.
- Insurance claims: Ask your insurance agent whether debris flow is covered by your policy; this article did not check it.
- Engineering: Ask a geotechnical professional how to design retaining walls or channels; this article does not cover it.
FAQ
Should I worry about debris flows after a wildfire?
Ready.gov says a wildfire on a slope increases the chance of landslides for several years; if you live nearby, sign up for emergency alerts and watch the weather forecast.
Can I leave before an evacuation order?
Yes. Ready.gov says to leave if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home.
Can debris flow be covered by insurance?
Ready.gov says to talk to your insurance agent if you are at risk; debris flow may be covered by NFIP flood insurance policies.
What if I get stuck in the path of a landslide?
Ready.gov says to move uphill as quickly as possible.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-02.
- Ready.gov, Landslides & Debris Flow (page updated 2026-05-11):https://www.ready.gov/landslides-debris-flow