Southeast Alaska faces deadly landslides and prepares for a future with more to come

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Debris from Southeast Alaska landslides are a threat to the region. The aftermath of the Zimovia Highway landslide and the deadly events in Wrangell and Haines have left residents in fear and the communities in mourning for their loss. Furthermore, people are beginning to recognize the impact of climate change on the intensity of future extreme rainfall events that may lead to more landslides in the future.

Scientists and engineers are working on landslide research projects in Alaska to better understand the risk and vulnerability of the region. However, unlike tsunami-prone areas, Southeast Alaska does not have a unified landslide warning system. With the unpredictability of landslides, communities have been developing their own mitigation and response strategies to the threat, but predicting landslides accurately remains a challenge.

The topography of Southeast Alaska, with narrow strips of land between the sea and steep slopes, is an ideal setting for sudden landslides. Climate change is expected to increase precipitation in the region, leading to more intense rainfall events that could trigger landslides. While the relationship between logging, unstable soils, and rainfall remains unclear, the influence of climate change on landslide frequency and size is considered to be undeniable.

Efforts are underway to understand and mitigate landslide risks better, but there is still much to learn. While Southeast Alaska has a long way to go in understanding its landslide hazards, the recent landslides have brought the issue to public attention, prompting more questions and inquiries about the risks of landslides in the region.

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