How common are landslides in PGH? (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: insurance, homes, neighborhoods)

[johnsoccer9v]

As a civil engineer, I checked the geologic maps and found that many areas are susceptible to landslides and/or soil creep (beyond the Mt. Washington area). I have also found several news stories about how landslides often result in legal battles over who is responsible for the slide. I know that damage from landslides and soil creep are not covered by typical homeowner's insurance. Does anyone get supplemental insurance to protect against this or do you just hope for the best? Maybe most of the risk is minor (e.g. new retaining wall needed) rather than losing your entire house.

[gg]

There are never-ending rock slides on both Rt 28 and Freeport Road across from Oakmont and I wonder if that will ever make it to homes up on the hill. I also look up at Mt. Washington in amazement that all of Grandview just doesn't slide down to the bottom. Some of those places look questionable at best, but I have never heard of an issue. Most of the mud slides around here are due to idiots allowing clean fill be be dumped on their hillsides and they slide into roadways. It happened in Penn Hills a couple of times.

[guy2073]

I was just looking at the slide areas on Mt Washington yesterday in traffic, I was wondering why they were never sprayed them with crown vetch or another type of ground cover.

[johnsoccer9v]

There apparently have been slides along Beechwood Blvd in Greenfield, the slopes between Hazelwood Ave and Calvary Cemetery, and I've heard there is a current issue somewhere in Morningside. I think these are all relatively small slides in comparison to something along Mt. Washington, but they could still cause significant property damage and/or result in significant costs associated with road repair/clean-up. It seems that the homeowner's are typically responsible, but I imagine some of the problems could be blamed on poor utilities/stormwater management by the City. Also, maybe the slide began on my neighbor's property, went through my property, and caused damage to the downhill neighbor. Seems like a messy legal situation, so I'm wondering how damage from slides have been handled in the past.

[PenguinsFan]

Landslides occur throughout this area, and unfortunately anything substantial is too expensive to fix for most homeowners. Water/rainfall are usually a trigger which means you tend to see more this time of year. You mention a slide on a neighbor's property damaging a downhill property, what was done uphill could be what started the issue or you could have an overall problem with the slope.

Sewickley plans to stabilize landslide-prone streets | TribLIVE

[I_Like_Spam]

There are a few notorious places for landslides, Rte 28 and Mt Washington seems to be the most common, although I've seen a few places in Greenfield that have been victimized as well.

But I don't think that there are as many as one would expect in such a hilly terrain. The rich vegetation on the slopes keeps the dirt pretty much in place in most places .

[PenguinsFan]

This article mentions insurance policies.
Catastrophic landslides unlikely in Pennsylvania, experts say | TribLIVE


This article also gives a brief mention of that.
The Pittsburgh area is prone to landslides, and human activity often makes them worse down town

"A 1986 study identified more than 700 recent and active landslides in Allegheny County"

[Pghuser]

Lots of recent landslides on Noblestown Road in the West End

[norcider]

There are two in Riverview Park. One has seriously displaced a prominent trail and has deposited debris on the roadway. Another one affected a home bordering the park.

[toosie]

I don't know how frequent landslides are in Pittsburgh, but I've been afraid of changing cause I've built my life around you...