Landslides

This passage discusses the power of landslides and the damage they can cause.

Lexile Level: 1200L

Categories: Science & Technology Animals & Nature

A landslide is an act of nature where debris and soil flow quickly downhill, destroying much of what lays in its path. Although landslides can occur in all 50 states, they most commonly occur in areas near mountains or hills, particularly where construction has taken place. The construction itself can often make a hillside unstable. Landslides often occur after other natural disasters, including floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. Each year in the United States, landslides cause more than $1 billion in damages. As a result, the government formed the Landslides Hazard Program. The goal of this program is to understand how and why landslides occur and to communicate the information to scientists, engineers, and the public. Over the years, this information has helped in making decisions on where and how to build homes and businesses in an effort to avoid potentially deadly landslides.