FLOOD00566

• County: Statewide
• Title: Nature's Building Codes - Geology and Construction in Colorado
• Date: 8/1/1979
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: DNR
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

Introduction

Americans sustain more than $1 bi II ion in damages annually
from landslides, mudflows, subsidence, avalanches, and other
common earth movements. The cost figures do not i nc I ude
earthquakes or loss of life. While no similar figures have
been campi led for Colorado, the price tag Is in the millions
of dollars. In Gal ifornla, where geologic hazards and
improper construction practices associated with them also
abound, planning officials project $300 million annually in
damages and related geologic hazard costs--nearly $3 bi II ion
in a decade.

At the same time the planners bel ieve the losses "could be
reduced 90 percent or more by a comb I nat I on of measures
involving adequate geologic interpretations, good engineering
practice, and effective enforcement of legal restraints on
land use and dlsturbance."l

The situation is put further into perspective by the
conclusion that "although slope fai lures generally are not so
spectacular or costly as certain other natural catastrophes
such as earthquakes, major floods, and tornadoes, they are
more widespread and the total financial loss due to slope
fa i lures ( I ands I I des, etc.) is probab I y greater than that for
any other geologic hazard to mankind."l

Another national study of nine natural hazards estimated the
losses in the tens of bi II Ions of dollars. It forecast
acce I erated property damage and deaths un less mi t I gat I on
measures are In i t i ated. It categor i ca I I Y pred i cted marked
reductions of losses (up to 85 percent) by implementing
geologic investigations, bui Iding and siting requirements
that acknowledge and compensate for known hazard areas.2

1 landslidas: Analysis and Control, Spacial Heport 176,
Robert L. Schuster and Raymond J. Krizek, editors; National
Academy of Sciences, 1978; 234 p,

2"Natural Hazards--Earthquake, Landsl ide, Expansive Soi I
Loss Models,1I John H. Wiggins, James E. 510sson, James P.
Krohn; and "3ui Iding Losses from Natural Hazards: Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow,11 Daniel H. Baer; J.H. Wiggins Company,
1650 South Pacific Highway, Hedondo 3each, CA, 90277;
December 1978,

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