Emergency declared in Rancho Palos Verdes amid landslide crisis

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes, Southern California, due to a landslide threatening homes. This has led the local utility provider to cut off electricity and gas to 245 residences because of broken pipes and power lines posing hazards.

On Tuesday afternoon, Newsom issued the declaration for the Los Angeles city community after local leaders reiterated their request over the weekend.

Newsom stated the city is situated on four out of five sub-slides of the Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex. He noted that land movement in parts of this complex has significantly accelerated following severe storms in 2023 and 2024.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been coordinating with city and county officials for nearly a year, providing technical assistance, supporting local assistance centres, facilitating a federal mitigation grant for groundwater work, and helping with initial damage assessments.

The declaration came just hours before residents and local leaders met to discuss the crisis with utility officials.

Larry Chung, vice president of Southern California Edison (SCE), informed attendees on Tuesday evening that it is impossible to predict the landslide’s acceleration in the coming weeks and months.

Residents in the expanding landslide zone, covering about 680 acres over the past year, have been advised to evacuate. SCE cut power to 245 homes on Sunday and Monday, stating that many will remain without electricity and gas indefinitely.

Chung emphasised that there is no timeframe for power restoration due to land instability, prioritising community and crew safety.

In January, resident Sallie Reeves noticed small cracks in her Rancho Palos Verdes home of four decades. By Tuesday, these cracks had evolved into a widening fissure, damaging numerous rooms as the ground shifted approximately 12 inches a week.

Reeves and other residents have been dealing with a landslide crisis making their homes unlivable. She described worsening conditions, including severe roof leaks, collapsed ceilings, and a widening gap between her deck and home. She and her husband, who is disabled, have moved from their master bedroom to a rear bedroom as their living space became uninhabitable.

Rancho Palos Verdes lies about 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, representing the area, stated on Sunday that there is no manual for such an emergency. The county has committed $5 million to disaster response, acknowledging that the land movement’s scale and impact are beyond what one city should bear alone.

Officials reported that shifting land has caused leaks in water and gas pipes, leading the city to red-tag at least two homes as uninhabitable.

Evacuation warnings have been issued, yet residents like Reeves are not leaving. Reeves explained the challenges of relocating her disabled husband and is working with a contractor to lift her home and build a steel foundation, a costly repair expected to be out-of-pocket.

Reeves expressed a desire to show Newsom her home, highlighting the impact of Mother Nature on local residents’ lives.