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Fact Sheet 2006–3017

Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center Natural Hazards Research — Landslides

By U.S. Geological Survey

Archived Publication—Most of the information contained in this publication is no longer current and is not expected to be updated.

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (65 KB)Introduction

Every year, natural hazards cause thousands of deaths and injuries and billions of dollars of property damage in the United States. Precipitation from hurricanes causes widespread regional flooding; ground shaking from earthquakes can topple buildings and bridges; floods can displace hundreds to thou­sands of people, ruin crops and disrupt transportation and com­merce; and wildfires can destroy whole communities and leave steep mountainous areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows. Any of these hazards can have a devastating effect on individual lives and livelihoods, and local, State, Federal, and global economies.

The USGS is presently developing a Natural Hazards Initia­tive called Reducing America’s Risks. While natural hazards are inevitable occurrences, the goal of this initiative is to limit losses of life and property. The research activities supported by the initiative can be broadly characterized in three areas: (1) activities related to prediction and assessment of natural hazards; (2) activities that support response to natural hazard events; and (3) activities that support recovery efforts after events. Researchers at the Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center in Rolla, Missouri have focused their attention on under­standing the processes, predicting the occurrence, and mitigat­ing the consequences of landslides.

First posted March 2006

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Suggested citation:

U.S. Geological Survey, 2006, Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center Natural Hazards Research — Landslides: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2006–3017, 1 p., available only online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3017/.


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