Utah’s Stunning Gives It The Nations Highest Landslide Risk

We are in landslide season and Utah knows how to celebrate. There is no doubt that Utah has stunning landscapes with canyonlands mountains and deep river valleys, and with that comes the danger of landslides.

The disaster geological people have a scale to indicate how risky your state is when it comes to landslides Utah's elegant landscape earned it the highest risk: Severe.

Now to be fair lots of states have a severe rating, but you can't go any higher and that's where Utah sits.

So if you are like me when passing a falling rock sign you might not know what to do. Should you speed up and get out of harm's way as fast as possible? Slow down and open your sunroof so you can see trouble as soon as it happens? Activate the super supports in your car or the roof net?

Well, here are some simple tips to help answer that question.

• Be aware of the weather conditions in the area you're driving through. Heavy rainfall or wet snow can increase the risk of landslides.
• Adjust your route on risky weather days if you can.
• If possible drive those danger areas during the day, disasters tend to be more extreme at night and your visibility is improved during the day.
• Reducing your speed will give you more time to react to changing road conditions.
• Be vigilant for signs such as small rockslides or debris on the road. There are often precursors to bigger problems so pay attention to the little changes.
• It's always smart to have essentials in your car in case the road gets compromised and you are stuck in your car as a temporary shelter.

I hope this helps you feel more informed when you see a "Falling Rock" sign. Enjoy this season. We love the moisture in our area, but sometimes it makes mayhem with our vulnerable landscape.