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Counties in Kansas where landslides pose the greatest threat

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December 2, 2024
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This story originally appeared on Truck Parking Club and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Counties in Kansas where landslides pose the greatest threat

Hurricane Helene wrought devastation across the Southeast. The storm's high winds and flooding killed more than 230 people, and the damage to property, infrastructure, and other economic impacts is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.

But heavy rains and destructive winds weren't the only natural disasters out in force: The hurricane also activated nearly 2,000 landslides, of which over half have impacted roads, rivers, and structures, according to early estimates.

Even on their own, landslides are a deadly and costly natural disaster. There were 310 fatal landslides globally in the first half of 2024 alone, which killed 2,315 people—unusually high numbers compared to previous years. In the U.S., 25 to 50 people on average are killed by landslides each year, according to the Department of Interior.

Landslides from Hurricane Helene alone killed 20 people in North Carolina, which endured the worst of the storm's landslides. A combination of fast-moving mud and water destroyed roads, rail links, water access, homes, and businesses across the state.

As climate change strengthens hurricanes and increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, the risk of landslides is also rising. To get a clearer picture of where the risk is greatest, Truck Parking Club mapped county-level data from the Department of the Interior Geological Survey, then ranked Kansas counties by the share of their land that is susceptible to landslides as part of a larger national analysis. Data was published in September 2024. Counties are displayed by the share of their land area that is susceptible to landslides.

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Counties within mountain ranges have high landslide susceptibility

In Kansas, over half of the land is susceptible to landslides in 2 counties.

A landslide occurs when rock, debris, or earth moves down a slope. Inclines like hills and bluffs are a critical element of slides, meaning mountainous regions are at higher risk. Typically, landslides are triggered by forces like heavy rainfall, snowmelt, earthquakes, volcanic activity, human activities, or some combination of factors. Often, they're impossible to predict.

According to the Geological Survey, places where weak or fractured earth sit on steep slopes are likely to experience landslides—for example, areas with a history of strip mining. In Appalachia, about 1,400 square miles of land are scarred by strip mining within the Ohio River basin, according to an Inside Climate News analysis of satellite imagery. Together, the "waste rock" left behind, increasing stream flows, and heavy rainfalls brought on by climate change create a deadly recipe for landslides. This part of Appalachia is also near the Gulf of Mexico, where fast-warming waters stir up exceptionally fast-growing storms, as was the case with Hurricane Helene.

Combined, these elements create the highest vulnerability to landslides in the region. Much of West Virginia, in particular, is at risk: In 47 of the state's 55 counties, more than 90% of the land is susceptible to slides. Parts of Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina are also exceedingly vulnerable.

Parts of California's coastline have also been plagued by major landslides. Earlier this year, a rockslide destroyed a part of Highway 1 along the state's famed Big Sur. The earth below the highway isn't sturdy, and wetter storms are further weakening it, contributing to more frequent and severe landslides. The majestic Big Sur stretch is an iconic road trip and tourism destination, where the highway winds along cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. However, it was forced to close to most traffic, and still offers just one lane at some points.

Other landslide risk factors include population growth, rapid land use changes, urbanization, heavy logging and deforestation, and inappropriate use of lands—slopes in particular. Wildfires also generate landslide hazards, leaving behind excess debris that can be dragged down during floods, as was the case in Big Sur.

The heightened frequency and severity of landslides are a direct consequence of logging, mining, and climate change, with massive repercussions for safety and critical infrastructure in the U.S. and around the world.

Hazard maps like those from the Geological Survey are a tool that federal, state, and local governments can use to identify landslide vulnerabilities and prepare for them. Preparation and mitigation efforts might include landslide drills, evacuation plans, improved drainage systems, and slope stabilization. Governments in susceptible areas can adopt disaster-resilient building codes and standards, as well as restrictions on mining and logging.

In some cases, such as Highway 1, there are no obvious solutions to fully protect against landslides. Still, with increased awareness and response plans, people can make more informed decisions on where to live (or safely visit) and can prepare themselves for landslides and their aftermath.

Read on to see where in Kansas is most vulnerable to the growing landslide threat.

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#50. Trego County

- Percent susceptible area: 20.7%
- Total susceptible area: 184 square miles

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#49. Wilson County

- Percent susceptible area: 20.9%
- Total susceptible area: 120 square miles

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#48. Osage County

- Percent susceptible area: 21.1%
- Total susceptible area: 148 square miles

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#47. Ottawa County

- Percent susceptible area: 21.3%
- Total susceptible area: 154 square miles

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#46. Franklin County

- Percent susceptible area: 21.6%
- Total susceptible area: 124 square miles

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#45. Morris County

- Percent susceptible area: 21.7%
- Total susceptible area: 152 square miles

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#44. Sheridan County

- Percent susceptible area: 22.3%
- Total susceptible area: 200 square miles

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#43. Cloud County

- Percent susceptible area: 22.6%
- Total susceptible area: 162 square miles

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#42. Miami County

- Percent susceptible area: 24.4%
- Total susceptible area: 142 square miles

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#41. Cheyenne County

- Percent susceptible area: 25.1%
- Total susceptible area: 256 square miles

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#40. Brown County

- Percent susceptible area: 25.3%
- Total susceptible area: 145 square miles

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#39. Kiowa County

- Percent susceptible area: 25.3%
- Total susceptible area: 183 square miles

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#38. Cowley County

- Percent susceptible area: 25.6%
- Total susceptible area: 289 square miles

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#37. Linn County

- Percent susceptible area: 25.9%
- Total susceptible area: 156 square miles

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#36. Ellis County

- Percent susceptible area: 26.5%
- Total susceptible area: 239 square miles

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#35. Marshall County

- Percent susceptible area: 27.0%
- Total susceptible area: 244 square miles

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#34. Rooks County

- Percent susceptible area: 27.4%
- Total susceptible area: 244 square miles

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#33. Graham County

- Percent susceptible area: 27.6%
- Total susceptible area: 248 square miles

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#32. Greenwood County

- Percent susceptible area: 27.7%
- Total susceptible area: 317 square miles

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#31. Nemaha County

- Percent susceptible area: 27.9%
- Total susceptible area: 201 square miles

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#30. Lincoln County

- Percent susceptible area: 27.9%
- Total susceptible area: 201 square miles

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#29. Elk County

- Percent susceptible area: 28.7%
- Total susceptible area: 187 square miles

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#28. Jackson County

- Percent susceptible area: 29.2%
- Total susceptible area: 192 square miles

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#27. Washington County

- Percent susceptible area: 29.3%
- Total susceptible area: 264 square miles

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#26. Clark County

- Percent susceptible area: 29.6%
- Total susceptible area: 289 square miles

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#25. Johnson County

- Percent susceptible area: 30.0%
- Total susceptible area: 144 square miles

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#24. Ellsworth County

- Percent susceptible area: 30.5%
- Total susceptible area: 219 square miles

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#23. Comanche County

- Percent susceptible area: 31.0%
- Total susceptible area: 245 square miles

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#22. Jewell County

- Percent susceptible area: 31.1%
- Total susceptible area: 283 square miles

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#21. Shawnee County

- Percent susceptible area: 31.6%
- Total susceptible area: 175 square miles

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#20. Osborne County

- Percent susceptible area: 31.9%
- Total susceptible area: 285 square miles

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#19. Douglas County

- Percent susceptible area: 33.2%
- Total susceptible area: 154 square miles

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#18. Smith County

- Percent susceptible area: 33.5%
- Total susceptible area: 301 square miles

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#17. Decatur County

- Percent susceptible area: 34.9%
- Total susceptible area: 312 square miles

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#16. Rawlins County

- Percent susceptible area: 34.9%
- Total susceptible area: 373 square miles

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#15. Atchison County

- Percent susceptible area: 35.0%
- Total susceptible area: 151 square miles

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#14. Russell County

- Percent susceptible area: 35.6%
- Total susceptible area: 316 square miles

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#13. Chautauqua County

- Percent susceptible area: 37.0%
- Total susceptible area: 239 square miles

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#12. Jefferson County

- Percent susceptible area: 37.8%
- Total susceptible area: 204 square miles

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#11. Chase County

- Percent susceptible area: 39.2%
- Total susceptible area: 305 square miles

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#10. Wabaunsee County

- Percent susceptible area: 41.1%
- Total susceptible area: 328 square miles

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#9. Norton County

- Percent susceptible area: 42.6%
- Total susceptible area: 374 square miles

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#8. Phillips County

- Percent susceptible area: 43.6%
- Total susceptible area: 387 square miles

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#7. Riley County

- Percent susceptible area: 44.7%
- Total susceptible area: 274 square miles

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#6. Barber County

- Percent susceptible area: 46.4%
- Total susceptible area: 527 square miles

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#5. Pottawatomie County

- Percent susceptible area: 47.1%
- Total susceptible area: 399 square miles

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#4. Leavenworth County

- Percent susceptible area: 47.4%
- Total susceptible area: 220 square miles

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#3. Geary County

- Percent susceptible area: 49.1%
- Total susceptible area: 192 square miles

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#2. Doniphan County

- Percent susceptible area: 61.3%
- Total susceptible area: 240 square miles

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#1. Wyandotte County

- Percent susceptible area: 62.8%
- Total susceptible area: 96 square miles

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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