# Presentation: 794584

## Natural Hazards Science A Matter of Public SafetyU.S. Geological SurveyCongressional Briefing Series on Landslides and Wildfires

**U.S. Department of the Interior**
**U.S. Geological Survey**

**Natural Hazards Science**** *****A Matter of Public Safety*****U.S. Geological Survey****Congressional Briefing Series on ****Landslides and Wildfires**

**Thomas Casadevall**
**Regional Director, Central Region**
**September 15, 2006**

**Notes:**
Happy to be here today and to share the podium with our valued partners.

Natural hazards are an important topic—they pose increasing risks to people and property here in America and around the world.  

The USGS works to minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanoes, and wildfires. Many of these disasters are interrelated, particularly the two we are addressing today. 

Part of the strength of USGS lies in our ability to bring together scientists with expertise in a wide range of natural-science disciplines to solve the challenge of natural disasters. Our work in landslides and wildfires is a particularly good example, with significant involvement from all USGS disciplines.

## The Need for Natural Hazards Science

**	****Landslides threaten lives and property in every State**

**Notes:**
About 180 million people -- two thirds of the population of the U.S. --  live in counties and parishes that have areas susceptible to landsliding.  Not all these people are threatened by landslides directly, but the wide geographic range of the landslide threat is important when we consider the number of businesses, families and the infrastructure that could be impacted. 

On average, each year landslides in the US cause approximately $3.5 billion in damage and kill between and 25 and 50 people. 

## Science for a Safer America

**	****Goal: to improve public safety through better understanding of hazards processes and to reduce losses through effective forecasts and warnings based on the best possible scientific information.**

- Hurricane Ivan, 2004, near Asheville, NC

**Notes:**
The USGS has the statutory responsibility for issuing disaster warnings for geologic hazards including landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The USGS works to provide better forecasts and predictions; issue timely and accurate warnings of the severity and locations of hazards; ensure availability and efficient dissemination of warnings; and produce user-friendly products for a wide range of users.

Landslides frequently occur during hurricanes.  Photo shows the destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 as it passed through North Carolina near Asheville.

Landslide scientists participate in USGS Storm Response Teams and issue landslide alerts to State Geologists, State emergency managers, federal agencies and the public through the National Weather Service when hurricane and severe storms pose landslide hazards.

## Partnerships are the Key to Success

**Much of the work of the USGS is done in**
**partnership with other agencies**

- Big Creek, Oregon                      debris flows

**Notes:**
The landslide hazard work in Oregon, shown here as an example, is done in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), and the Departments of Forestry and Transportation and the USDA Forest Service.  

( Big Creek debris flows in Oregon, view looking up into basin, showing deposit, source areas, and tracks of some of the flows .)

## NOAA-USGS Early Warning Systems

**	**
- Launched prototype flash-flood and debris flow warning system for burned areas in Southern California
- Expand the early-warning system to other burned areas in United States

**Notes:**
Last September, NOAA and the USGS launched a prototype flash flood and debris-flow warning system for wildfire burned areas in Southern California.  During the winter of 2005/2006, its first year of operation, nearly half the watches or warnings that were issued for burned areas accurately predicted the specific timing and locations of debris flows and floods in burned areas.  A total of 11 debris flows occurred in the warned areas.

We hope to expand this system to other areas at risk.

Top image – Waterman Canyon in Southern California
Bottom image – I70 debris flow in previously burned area near Glenwood Springs (Storm King).

## Science for a Safer America

**	****Floods and debris flows are generated much faster from burned watersheds than from unburned areas**

**Notes:**
In an area that has been burned, the danger of debris flows and floods increases significantly, because the baked soil has little ability to absorb rainfall and because vegetation that helped to stabilize slopes has been destroyed. 

For example, in this area, a thunderstorm lasting only 18 minutes triggered a debris flow that buried the red car shown in the inset photo.

## Recent Severe Wildfires 

** ****“****Wildfires across the country have scorched more land in 2006 than in any year since at least 1960...” **
**                   ****--*****The Washington Post*****, Sept. 14, 2006**

**Notes:**
Several recent wildfire seasons have been particularly bad:
-- 2003 fires in San Bernardino County were followed by devastating landslides that killed 16 people
-- 2004 fire season – 8 million acres in 40 states
-- 2005 – 8.7 million acres burned according to the National Interagency Fire Center
Current 2006 fire season even worse...so far, more than 8.5 million acres burned; more than a month left in fire season.

## USGS Wildland Fire Science

**Notes:**
To develop scientific understanding of ecological role of fire, fire effects, and post-fire restoration across full range of biophysical settings and ecosystems of interest to DOI and other land managers

Research seeks to develop the essential scientific understanding of the ecological role of fire, fire effects, and post-fire restoration across the full range of biophysical settings and ecosystems of interest to land managers

Focus on a range of ecosystems
Forest
sagebrush steppe,
chaparral, 
desert, 
woodland, 
wetland, 
coastal prairie
grasslands  

Strong focus on wildfire (especially in Western United States), but also on use of prescribed fire in ecosystem management needed in North-Central, Southern and Eastern United States

## USGS Wildland Fire Science

## USGS Wildland Fire Science

## USGS Wildland Fire Science

## Wildfires in California

**Increased losses, costs during 20****th**** century**
**Understanding causes and impacts ****	**

**Notes:**
Severe wildfires are common in California landscapes. Wildfire is a natural process important to function of many ecosystems. Human alterations of fire regimes can cause impacts to human communities and natural resources

Southern California has the worst fire weather in the United States, with the combination of drought and extreme Santa Ana winds.  But much of the Nation may be at risk, depending on fuel loads and weather conditions.

## Natural Hazards Science  A Matter of Public Safety

**	**

**Notes:**
Natural hazards, like wildfires and landslides, will always be with us. They are part of how our planet works. Attempts to stop the natural processes, as we used to do with fire suppression, can lead to greater disasters in the future.

The goal of USGS science and monitoring is to prevent these natural hazards from becoming disasters.