When I imagine disaster scenarios, I usually think of swift, surprising calamities—blink-of-an-eye kinds of moments that could change my world drastically. That’s why I’m still trying to process what’s going on in Jackson Hole. If you haven’t seen the headlines, there is what
LiveScience.com is calling a “slow motion disaster” in progress.
As a bizarre contrast to the recent and deadly landslide that shocked residents of Oso, Washington, a butte in Wyoming’s famous resort town is crumbling slowly, sending debris cascading into the business developments below and eating away at the properties above at a rate of nearly a foot a day, according to
Reuters. And if that doesn’t sound drastic, talk to the 50+ evacuees, or the owners of the home that was “torn in two” as the earth dropped out from beneath it earlier this month.
We’ve kind of had landslides on our minds lately. You can read our post about the Oso slide
here. And below are a couple more resources for landslide safety.
While fast and unexpected catastrophes can be traumatic, there’s something creepy about the slow, inevitable approach of disaster. But the trauma and damage can be lessened in both scenarios with a bit of preparation. Educate yourself, stay aware, and know the best practices to keep your family safe.
--Stacey
