Debris Flow
Once the smoke clears from a wildfire, the danger is not over. Flash floods and debris
flows—or mudflows—can be one of the most hazardous consequences of rainfall
on burned hill slopes. Just a small amount of rainfall on a burned area can
lead to these hazards. The powerful force of rushing water, soil, and rock,
both within the burned area and downstream, can destroy culverts, bridges,
roadways, and structures, and can result in injury or death. The U.S. Geological
Landslides Hazards Program in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration strives to reduce loss of life and property to landslide hazards
through improved understanding and effective mitigation. This is accomplished
in three primary ways: development of improved approaches for landslide hazard
assessments; post-disaster response; and public information and outreach.
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