Landslide, Mudslide and Avalanche Survival

WARNING SIGNS (act on any) - Ground sloshes like jelly, cracks widen on slopes, doors/windows suddenly stick (the ground shifted), water in springs/wells gets muddy or stops. - Rain on recently burned ground is a classic debris-flow trigger. - Avalanche signs: rapid temperature rise, settling sounds, recent heavy snow + wind loading, cracks shooting across the snow. IF A LANDSLIDE / MUDFLOW STARTS 1. If you can, move UP and AWAY LATERALLY (not straight down the flow path). Getting to higher, stable ground is everything. 2. If you can not escape, curl into a tight ball, protect your head, and try to stay above the mud, not buried. 3. Never try to outrun a flow downhill; it is faster than a person. If in a car, abandon it for high ground — vehicles are death traps in a flow. SPEND AFTERMATH WISELY - Stay away until officials confirm it is stable — slides often follow with another. - Watch for broken gas lines, downed power lines and broken water mains. AVALANCHE-SPECIFIC - Best survival tool: carry a beacon/probe/shovel and avalanche training before skiing backcountry. Pull an airbag pack to stay on top. - If caught: discard poles/skis, swim on the surface, fight to keep your face clear, and make an air pocket around your mouth if buried. Rescuers have about 15 minutes to find you.