Landslides in Puerto Rico

Learn more about the new Landslide Guide at  hazards.colorado.edu/puertorico 

More than 70,000 landslides were triggered by Hurricane María in Puerto Rico. Landslides buried or damaged homes, schools, bridges, dams, and roads. The municipality of Utuado, located in the mountainous interior, appears to have been most severely impacted. Many people in Utuado and other communities were isolated in the weeks after the hurricane due to landslides disrupting the main arteries into and out of communities.

The complete Landslide Guide is available for download in  Spanish  and  English . It is a free resource that can be shared with anyone. The 70,000 landslides in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria raised many questions about this hazard, and the guide is a resource for answering those questions and improving mitigation, preparedness, and peace of mind for the future. The recent series of earthquakes in Puerto Rico has also elevated the conversation about hazards in Puerto Rico, and this guide aims to support that ongoing dialogue.

Before next hurricane season, Puerto Rico's communities will continue working together to develop disaster family plans, prepare their emergency kits, and establish the relationships that are so essential for effective communication during times of crisis. The Landslide Guide is one tool that communities and emergency managers are using to start and continue conversations about preparedness and mitigation. An education and outreach campaign will utilize a number of different information channels—including print, radio, television, and social media—to spread the word about the landslide risk that accompanies hurricanes, earthquakes, and times of intense rainfall. By using scientific information to start an ongoing conversation, Puerto Ricans are working together to prepare and reduce risk before next hurricane season and for future generations.