When the Ground Fails: Planning and Engineering Response to Debris Flows. Program on Environment and Behavior

摘要

This report consists primarily of two case studies of response by public agencies to damaging debris flows. General background is provided as context for the case studies, and conclusions and recommendations are drawn from them. Our information is derived mainly from interviews, review of local newspapers, and review of pertinent documents such as local plans and regulations and hazard mitigation reports. Use Planning (PELUP) contains case studies of planning response to recent U.S. earthquakes and to the Bluebird Canyon landslide in Laguna Beach, California. This study clearly shows that one of the most challenging tasks after an earthquake is deciding what to do in areas of failed ground. Recommendations from the earlier study are reviewed and modified based on insights derived from the January 1982, debris flow cases.