Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall.
This landslide event page serves as an event summary to communicate timely science information to our partners. This information includes what is currently understood about the event and ongoing activities of the USGS and partner agencies and maybe be subject to change.
| Disclaimer: This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information. |
Our thoughts go out to the millions of people affected by Hurricane Helene and the significant flooding and landslide activity that continues to impact the region.
How to stay safe:
- Do not try to clear landslides that are blocking roads without consulting a professional geologist or engineer. Removing material may remobilize the landslide, bringing more material down the hillside. Downed power lines or other hazards may be hidden under the landslide deposit.
- If a landslide impacted your home, or you see signs of a landslide, contact your local emergency services. Local officials are best able to assess potential danger. If the danger is not immediate, seek guidance from a qualified professional engineering geologist or civil engineer.
- Learn more about landslide preparedness.
What we are doing
The USGS activated to support the North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS) and Tennessee Geological Survey (TGS) on September 28, 2024. The USGS Landslide Assessments, Situational Awareness, and Event Response Research (LASER) team is providing technical assistance through remote and field reconnaissance, including mapping landslides on the Hurricane Helene 2024 Landslide Observations. The focus is providing situational awareness for emergency response and recovery.
Contributors to this page include Marísa Macías, Corina Cerovski-Darriau, Eric Bilderback, Lauren Schaefer, Lauren Palermo, Sonia Ellison, Jaime Kostelnik, Jocelyn West, Kate Allstadt, Paula Burgi, Robert Schmitt, Kelli Baxstrom, Emily Bedinger, Ben Mirus, Sabrina Martinez, Francis Rengers, and Sara McBride.
More Information
Learn more about federal response and FEMA guidance for Hurricane Helene.
Learn more about landslides.
Learn more about landslide preparedness.
Learn more about the National Landslide Susceptibility Map.
Learn more about the Landslide Hazards Program.
Learn more about USGS Landslide Response.
References
Belair, G.M., Jones, J.M., Martinez, S.N., Mirus, B.B., and Wood, N.J., 2024, Slope-Relief Threshold Landslide Susceptibility Models for the United States and Puerto Rico: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P13KAGU3.
Landslide Assessments, Situational Awareness, and Event Response Research (LASER)
Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall.
This landslide event page serves as an event summary to communicate timely science information to our partners. This information includes what is currently understood about the event and ongoing activities of the USGS and partner agencies and maybe be subject to change.
| Disclaimer: This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information. |
Our thoughts go out to the millions of people affected by Hurricane Helene and the significant flooding and landslide activity that continues to impact the region.
How to stay safe:
- Do not try to clear landslides that are blocking roads without consulting a professional geologist or engineer. Removing material may remobilize the landslide, bringing more material down the hillside. Downed power lines or other hazards may be hidden under the landslide deposit.
- If a landslide impacted your home, or you see signs of a landslide, contact your local emergency services. Local officials are best able to assess potential danger. If the danger is not immediate, seek guidance from a qualified professional engineering geologist or civil engineer.
- Learn more about landslide preparedness.
What we are doing
The USGS activated to support the North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS) and Tennessee Geological Survey (TGS) on September 28, 2024. The USGS Landslide Assessments, Situational Awareness, and Event Response Research (LASER) team is providing technical assistance through remote and field reconnaissance, including mapping landslides on the Hurricane Helene 2024 Landslide Observations. The focus is providing situational awareness for emergency response and recovery.
Contributors to this page include Marísa Macías, Corina Cerovski-Darriau, Eric Bilderback, Lauren Schaefer, Lauren Palermo, Sonia Ellison, Jaime Kostelnik, Jocelyn West, Kate Allstadt, Paula Burgi, Robert Schmitt, Kelli Baxstrom, Emily Bedinger, Ben Mirus, Sabrina Martinez, Francis Rengers, and Sara McBride.
More Information
Learn more about federal response and FEMA guidance for Hurricane Helene.
Learn more about landslides.
Learn more about landslide preparedness.
Learn more about the National Landslide Susceptibility Map.
Learn more about the Landslide Hazards Program.
Learn more about USGS Landslide Response.
References
Belair, G.M., Jones, J.M., Martinez, S.N., Mirus, B.B., and Wood, N.J., 2024, Slope-Relief Threshold Landslide Susceptibility Models for the United States and Puerto Rico: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P13KAGU3.