Nationwide map shows area's risks of landslides
UC geosciences professor talks to WVXU about local examples
WVXU highlighted a new national map that identifies the greatest risk of landslides in every state.
University of Cincinnati geologist Daniel Sturmer helped the U.S. Geological Survey assemble the map from data he collected from more than 700 landslides in Nevada, where they pose a major threat to some populated areas.
“It's important to know where you've had landslides, because that can tell you where you will have landslides again,” Sturmer told WVXU.
Some of the hills around Cincinnati present a landslide threat as happened in 2019 when transportation officials had to close parts of Columbia Parkway.
The highest landslide risks are in the western United States and the Appalachians. But Sturmer said the risks are not limited to mountain areas.
“Generally landslides don't just happen out of the blue with no initial indicators,” Sturmer said. “If you can learn those warning signs and learn to look for them, then you can hopefully contact somebody, and bring somebody out who can help mitigate it before it's a catastrophe.”
Featured image at top: UC Associate Professor Daniel Sturmer studies landslides in the Department of Geosciences. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC
The U.S. Geological Survey released a new map identifying areas at greatest risk of landslides across the United States. Illustration/USGS
Related Stories
Does the president's prescription drug site actually make medications affordable?
March 20, 2026
Local 12 turned to Erwin Erhardt, PhD, economics professor in UC’s Lindner College of Business for insights on direct-to-consumer drugs.
Fusion reactors may be key to uncovering dark matter
March 20, 2026
Popular Mechanics highlights a new study by University of Cincinnati physicist Jure Zupan that explains how fusion reactors might create subatomic particles associated with dark matter.
UC Blue Ash expert examines a link between sports betting and binge drinking behavior
March 20, 2026
Keshar Ghimire, PhD, an associate professor of economics at UC Blue Ash, has co-authored a new study in the journal Health Economics that examines a possible link between gambling and substance use. Local 12 spoke with Ghimire about his findings.