You're out on the balcony,
soaking up the stunning views
of the valley's hills.
All of a sudden,
a violent storm starts to form.
You notice the trees along the mountain
swaying and falling in the wind.
The collapsing forest quickly turns into
an enormous wave of trees, dirt, and debris.
Don't stand your ground.
A landslide is destroying everything in sight.
And this one's heading straight for you.
A landslide is the movement of soil,
rocks, or other types of debris down a slope.
Landslides may not look as massive as
earthquakes or tsunamis,
but they can be just as devastating.
About 4.8 million people were affected
by landslides in the last 20 years.
But, not all landslides are the same.
Rockfalls are barrages of loose rock
that tumble down steep slopes.
They can be caused by
earthquakes and mining.
Their size can range from teeny tiny pebbles
to huge, hulking boulders.
Mudslides happen when dirt and debris
become saturated with water.
Mudslides are often caused by
heavy rain or volcanic activity.
They can be a slow, creeping sludge,
or a fast, all-consuming wave.
Like in most natural disasters,
you'll have the best chance of surviving
if you prepare in advance.
Have an emergency kit ready with
food, water, flashlights, first aid supplies,
and emergency blankets.
You'll also want to create and practice
an evacuation plan.
Identify all the escape routes
from your home and workplace.
Choose a meeting spot in case
you get separated from family and friends.
You may only have minutes
to get out of your home.
If you live by a mountain or hilly terrain,
you could be at risk of a landslide,
so listen up.
Look for tilted trees, new holes,
or bare spots along the hillside.
Listen for sounds like rumbling
or trees cracking.
And pay attention,
especially if the authorities are
telling you to evacuate.
If you think there's a risk of a landslide,
don't even think about getting some shut-eye.
Be on the alert and stay awake.
Most landslide deaths occur
when people are sleeping.
But it's too late to run.
The landslide is right outside your doorstep.
If you can see a landslide moving towards you,
chances are you probably can't outrun it.
Stay inside, and move upstairs
or onto higher ground.
Then, hunker down underneath
some sturdy furniture and wait it out.
Getting to a higher spot can help you
stay out of the path of the landslide.
But what can you do if you're
caught outside during a landslide?
Don't hide behind a tree or anything unstable.
Landslides can be strong enough
to push them onto you.
Find any possible structures
you can hide in to protect you from the debris.
Look. Hide over there.
You start running towards
the building closest to you and
uh-oh.
With no shelter close by
and nothing to climb on,
your last resort is to brace yourself.
If you have an emergency blanket,
cover yourself with it to protect your body
Then, curl up in a ball,
protect your head from debris,
and avoid inhaling water.
Luckily, if you are caught in a landslide,
there's a chance you won't be
buried completely.
Once the flow stops,
the dirt might be loose enough
that you can dig yourself out.
The dust has settled,
and the landslide has come to a halt.
Congratulations, you've survived
a catastrophic landslide.
Unfortunately, the landslide carried you
all the way to the middle of a forest.
Where are we? How do we get out?