"Major slides happen every two years or so on slopes in this region, but most occur in places that are not inhabited." [the article]

Hate to say it, but pay attention to where you build your house. Just like the people out in CA that build their houses on unstable hills, then are bewildered when a slide takes it out. Or the people across the country that build their house on a river flood plain, and then are amazed when the river floods their house.