Each year, thousands of avalanches take place. Avalanches can be provoked by wind, temperature warming, snow and earthquakes. They can also be caused by skiers, snow bikers, hikers as well as machine vibrations or construction sites.
- An avalanche is produced when a layer of snow is detached and goes down a mountain.
- Avalanches are caused by the following four factors: a steep slope, a snowpack, a fragile layer within the snowpack and a trigger event.
- Roads and railroads must be diverted to reduce risk.
- Controlled avalanches can be triggered where the snowpack is dangerous.
- The avalanches can go up to 56 mph.
- After an hour, we generally find one survivor out of three victims buried by an avalanche. The most common causes of death are suffocation, injuries and hypothermia.
Safety Tips in case of an avalanche
If you plan to go in the hinterland, take a course on security for avalanche cases.
Make sure to stay in group when you go in the hinterland and to be guided by an experimented person. Do not move away too far from your group.
- When you are driving, spot the signs indicating an avalanche zone where you must not stop.
- Drive with care in the avalanche zones. The avalanches can reach the road in sudden fashion.
- Respect the road closings. When the avalanche risk is high, control works involving explosives can be executed at any moment.
- If an avalanche is blocking the highway, stay in your vehicle and keep your seat belts on. Wait for help. It is easier to find a car then a person in the snow. If it’s possible, go to a safe area.
- Avoid crossing avalanches driving a car, even if they are minor.
- If you own a farm, it is recommended to withdraw the cattle from zones at risk. When an avalanche occurs, it is rare to have the time to manage the situation or the animals’ reaction. When pastures, enclosures or road exits are located at the bottom of a snowy steep slope, be careful when the snows accumulates on the frozen snow already fallen and a warming temperature follows up.
