Western North Carolina Mountain Real Estate Declared Landslide-Hazardous

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has determined that disastrous landslide events are probable in the following Western North Carolina counties:

Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey.

This hazardous-land assessment dates from 1998.

When it Rains

National Weather Service Bulletin— September 21, 2009

The recent heavy rainfall across the area from Macon County to Henderson County North Carolina has increased the risk of slope failures and landslides if more heavy rain develops across the southern mountains today. An additional two or three inches…if it falls in a of period of one or two hours…could be enough to trigger slope movements…especially where hillsides have been modified by human activity.

This National Weather Service notification serves as warning that Western North Carolina landslides and slope failures are expected events during periods of heavy rainfall.

Western North Carolina Mountain Real Estate

Western North Carolina mountain home sites are presently being marketed and sold as no-risk real estate. The reality is, the aforementioned counties are undergoing extensive landslide mapping. Of the 19 counties listed, three have been mapped: Macon 2006, Watauga 2008 and Buncombe 2009. Geologic studies focus on steep slope (land on or above a 15% grade), soil surveys and prior landslide events.

Western North Carolina real property is not insurable for landslide losses.