Transcript:

When Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina in 2024, some areas got over a foot of rain.

In Craigtown, a small community in the western part of the state, this downpour caused a river of mud to rush downhill into town, destroying homes and killing over a dozen people.

As climate change causes more extreme rain in many parts of the country, the threat of devastating landslides like this could grow.

Heavy storms can saturate the soil on hills and mountains, until water, mud, and debris come tumbling down.

And other climate change impacts can raise the risks, too.

For example, severe wildfires leave ground burned and barren, with few plants to hold the soil in place and absorb water. So when rain hits, water, dirt, and debris can suddenly rush down a mountain.

And in northern regions, warming temperatures are melting glaciers and frozen ground, destabilizing mountain slopes.

Many landslides strike suddenly, leaving little time to escape, so it’s crucial to plan ahead.

Learn about your area’s landslide risk, sign up for emergency alerts, and have a go-bag ready – so you can stay safe if disaster strikes and you need to evacuate.

Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media