Detailed Discussion
A Landslide is the downward and outward movement of slope-forming materials including soil, artificial fill, or a combination of these materials. Stabilization or restoration of failed slopes is only eligible in the circumstances described below.
Emergency Work: If a disaster-related landslide poses an immediate threat to life, public health and safety, or improved public or private property, cost-effective measures for reducing the threat may be eligible. Examples include:
Temporary drainage measures
Temporary ground protection
Partial excavation at the head to reduce driving force
Backfilling or buttressing the toe
Installing barriers to redirect debris flow
Temporary relocation of the facility’s function, when it is cost- effective and otherwise meets criteria for temporary relocation
Site grading
Such measures must be temporary. FEMA will provide assistance to stabilize the area of the immediate threat only; FEMA will not assist with the stabilization of an entire hillside or with long-term stabilization of the limited area.
Permanent Work: If a disaster-related landslide damages an eligible facility, repairs to that facility and replacement of a reasonable amount of lost integral ground necessary to support the facility are eligible as long as the site is stable. If the site is not stable and the instability was caused by the disaster, the site is eligible only if the work to stabilize the site is cost effective. If the site was unstable before the disaster, the applicant must pay to stabilize the site before FEMA will provide funds to repair the facility. Natural slopes and hillsides do not qualify as a facility and are not eligible for permanent work assistance.
In some cases, the stability of a site cannot be determined by visual inspection, and a geotechnical study may be necessary to determine the existence and cause of instability (see Geotechnical Study).
If the disaster is the exclusive cause of site instability, FEMA can assist with slope stabilization that is necessary to restore a facility.
A Landslide is the downward and outward movement of slope-forming materials including soil, artificial fill, or a combination of these materials. Stabilization or restoration of failed slopes is only eligible in the circumstances described below.
Emergency Work: If a disaster-related landslide poses an immediate threat to life, public health and safety, or improved public or private property, cost-effective measures for reducing the threat may be eligible. Examples include:
Temporary drainage measures
Temporary ground protection
Partial excavation at the head to reduce driving force
Backfilling or buttressing the toe
Installing barriers to redirect debris flow
Temporary relocation of the facility’s function, when it is cost- effective and otherwise meets criteria for temporary relocation
Site grading
Such measures must be temporary. FEMA will provide assistance to stabilize the area of the immediate threat only; FEMA will not assist with the stabilization of an entire hillside or with long-term stabilization of the limited area.
Permanent Work: If a disaster-related landslide damages an eligible facility, repairs to that facility and replacement of a reasonable amount of lost integral ground necessary to support the facility are eligible as long as the site is stable. If the site is not stable and the instability was caused by the disaster, the site is eligible only if the work to stabilize the site is cost effective. If the site was unstable before the disaster, the applicant must pay to stabilize the site before FEMA will provide funds to repair the facility. Natural slopes and hillsides do not qualify as a facility and are not eligible for permanent work assistance.
In some cases, the stability of a site cannot be determined by visual inspection, and a geotechnical study may be necessary to determine the existence and cause of instability (see Geotechnical Study).
If the disaster is the exclusive cause of site instability, FEMA can assist with slope stabilization that is necessary to restore a facility.
References: Landslides and Slope Failures, FEMA Policy 9524.2, dated May 23, 2006 Public Assistance Guide, FEMA 322, pages 81-82