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<br />002843 <br /> <br />7.0 VULNERABILITY TO LANDSLIDE HAZARDS <br /> <br />Colorado's vulnerability (exposure) to the landslide hazard is high and <br />increasing rapidly. The growing public risk fully justifies the need to <br />mitigate the real and potential impacts of 1ands1iding. Vulnerability is <br />related to both current economic losses and the rapidly growing potential for <br />loss of life, adverse impacts on the state's economy, and damages to a wide <br />range of vital properties. <br /> <br />Vulnerability - the susceptibility to lnJury or loss, and risk - the possib1ity <br />of injury or loss occur when people choose (knowingly or unknowingly) to settle <br />and develop near steeply sloping areas where 1ands1iding is likely. <br />Vulnerability (and risk) is also related to preparedness and efforts to take <br />mitigative action. People who prepare for and take mitigate action before the <br />occurrence of an extreme event are less vulnerable than those who do not. The <br />vulnerability (and risk) of Colorado's people and properties is rooted in a <br />relationship between the proximity of the settlement and development pattern to <br />areas where 1ands1iding is likely, the level of damage or impact likely, and <br />the degree to which action has been taken to prepare for and mitigate <br />potential impacts. <br /> <br />Preparedness can be stimulated through efforts at heightening public <br />awareness, planning, and exercising. However, convincing governments to spend <br />money to mitigate uncertain future losses is a complex process. The first and <br />possibly most important step is to identify areas of vulnerability so that <br />incentives exist to stimulate public action. Vulnerabilities can then best be <br />established by identifying areas across the state where 1ands1iding is likely <br />to occur and estimating the possible impacts or risk. Table 7.1 reflects the <br />types of impacts which can occur and their consequences, and Table 7.2, the <br />-increasing risks which develop as 1ands1iding impacts become more severe. <br />Table 7.3 is a selective list of areas in Colorado that are currently <br />threatened by landslides. <br /> <br />Chapter 8 then identifies three areas of high risk drawn from the statewide <br />analysis. These vulnerable communities were selected to reflect differing <br />landslide problems that could lead to a range of differing impacts and <br />possible mitigation actions. Analysis (in Chapter 8) of these three high risk <br />sites has been carried out in some detail to provide a basis for the local <br />preparedness and mitigative actions disucssed in Chapter 9. <br /> <br />- 64 - <br />