In response to Hurricane Helene’s devastating effects across multiple states, the U.S. Geological Survey has activated its landslide event team.
The USG has documented more than 200 landslides across North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
“Our thoughts are with the communities and the countless people impacted by this tragic storm,” said Holly Weyers, USGS Southeast regional director. “We feel that activating our landslide event team in the aftermath of Helene was an essential step in providing federal, state, emergency managers and rescue teams with the science information needed to assist with relief efforts.”
The North Carolina and Tennessee Geological Surveys requested federal assistance after Helene brought record rainfall and river levels across the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Landslides can be triggered by rainfall from hurricanes when rainwater fills the gaps in the soil faster than the water can drain resulting in elevated pore water pressure that reduces the strength of the soil and leads to slope failures. These types of landslides can occur suddenly and turn into fast-moving landslides that can travel very far.
Two USGS landslide experts are currently based in the Knoxville, Tenn., area conducting aerial reconnaissance flights in partnership with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
A dashboard has been launched to show locations of landslides as part of a multi-agency collaborative effort.
Due to the provisional nature of the dashboard, landslide point locations could be inaccurate, and all data is subject to change without notice, according to the USG.
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Crystal Graham
