Residents of the community of Rancho Palos Verdes in California are struggling as massive landslides and land movement devastate their coastal town.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to help residents in the area, particularly as gas and power have been shut off to hundreds of homes.
Power Shut Offs Seen Throughout California City
Earlier this week, SoCal Edison announced that they were shutting off power to about 245 homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.
According to the company, power had to be shut off because they were worried land movement could bring about damaged equipment, which could lead to fires.
Homeowners Are Struggling
This sudden announcement that power would be shut off — in some cases, indefinitely — has come as a huge shock to many homeowners in the city.
This announcement comes only a few months after gas was cut off to many homes in the town, also because of the threat of worsening land movement.
An Unprecedented Situation
SoCal Edison’s vice president of the customer engagement division, Larry Chung, has come out to explain that this emergency is an “unprecedented” situation.
Chung said, “We have an obligation not only to serve but a higher obligation to ensure the safety of our community.”
An Increasing Concern of Landslides
The Rancho Palos Verdes region has always had to deal with landslides. Historically, this region has suffered from this type of land movement.
However, the region has never seen the type of dangerous land movement seen in the past year. The threat of massive and hazardous landslides has led to officials cutting power and gas, as well as Newsom declaring a state of emergency.
Why Are Landslides Occurring?
Officials have explained that a historic storm experienced earlier this February in the region has further escalated land movement.
Last year’s particularly rainy spring hasn’t helped matters. Now, residents of Rancho Palos Verdes are suffering from the consequences of this rainy year, as the land is moving beneath their very feet.
Great Land Shifts
Authorities have explained that great land movements have been seen. In some cases, at least one foot is shifting a week, which increases the concern of a massive disaster just waiting to happen.
So far, streets have buckled and homes have sunk from landslides. Now, hundreds of families in certain regions of the town are being forced to evacuate their homes because of this growing threat.
A Massive Emergency
Janice Hahn, a Los Angeles County supervisor, explained that this emergency has no playbook.
Hahn said, “I think we’re all learning there is no playbook for an emergency like this one. What we do know is many families are struggling, are suffering, are feeling great anxiety about what is happening. They are watching their homes – they are watching their streets – crumble around them.”
Calls for Newsom to Visit
Hahn has also called for Newsom to visit the town, as well as for the state to further support the people of Rancho Palos Verdes.
“This is bigger than Rancho Palos Verdes. This land movement is so gigantic and so damaging that one city or one homeowners organization should not have to bear this burden alone,” Hahn added.
Evacuations Are Underway
Some residents have been asked to evacuate their homes, including those who have now lost power because of SoCal’s shutoff.
Rancho Palos Verdes city officials have explained that they are working with affected residents to find hotels at discounted prices.
People Worry About Their Homes
However, those in the most dangerous areas remain worried, for a variety of reasons. When they leave their homes, they’re still concerned about what could happen to their house if the land does shift devastatingly.
Already, homes and buildings have been affected by this land movement. Concern over what this could do to the town remains.
The Dismantling of a Chapel
This year has already brought one major change to Rancho Palos Verdes. The Wayfarers chapel — the beloved glass sanctuary of Frank Lloyd Wright Jr — was dismantled by chapel leaders earlier this year.
These leaders took apart the chapel after they learned it could be destroyed because of land movement. Now, they hope to rebuild it elsewhere, where this threat isn’t so high.
