Governor Declares Emergency in California Town at Risk of Landslide

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes, where a significant landslide poses a threat to homes. This measure was taken as local utility companies were forced to cut electricity and gas to 245 residences due to damaged pipes and power lines.

The declaration was issued on Tuesday afternoon following a press conference held by local officials over the weekend. They had urged the governor to take action in response to the escalating situation.

In a statement, Newsom noted that Rancho Palos Verdes is situated on four of the five sub-slides within the Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex. He highlighted that land movement in this area has accelerated dramatically after severe storms impacted the region in 2023 and 2024.

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been working closely with city and county officials for nearly a year to respond to the landslide. Their efforts include providing technical support, facilitating federal grant aid for groundwater mitigation, and assisting with initial damage assessments.

Newsom’s action came just hours before residents were scheduled to meet and discuss their growing concerns regarding the crisis.

In January, resident Sallie Reeves shared her experience with ABC News, noting the small cracks that had appeared in her home over the years. By Tuesday, those cracks had transformed into a large fissure, causing extensive damage as her house continues to shift dramatically—she estimates the earth has moved about 12 inches a week under her property.

Residents like Reeves are struggling with uninhabitable conditions in their homes due to the landslide. “This just kept getting worse, and we had animals coming in,” the 81-year-old Reeves explained, showing the split in her home that has left her master bedroom exposed to the outdoors.

The landslide has spread across approximately 680 acres over the past year, prompting evacuation advisories. Southern California Edison (SCE) reported cutting power to 245 homes on Sunday and Monday, leaving many without electricity and gas for an undisclosed period.

Reeves described the ongoing situation as a “hard pill to swallow,” especially with her husband’s disabilities complicating their circumstances. They have been forced to vacate their master bedroom due to water damage from a severe leak that has made the situation unbearable. “It was as if someone just turned a hose on our bed,” she said.

Over the last few months, conditions in her home have continued to deteriorate, with parts of the ceiling collapsing and widening gaps forming between her outdoor deck and the house. She and her husband have moved into a rear bedroom as the living area became unlivable.

Rancho Palos Verdes is situated roughly 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn addressed the public on Sunday, stating, “There is no playbook for an emergency like this one.” She emphasized that the landslide’s impact is beyond the capacity of one city and that the county is allocating $5 million to respond to the disaster.

Officials reported that shifting earth has resulted in water and gas leaks, leading to the red-tagging of at least two homes deemed uninhabitable. According to Hahn, “This landslide has been moving for decades, but the current speed of movement is unprecedented and necessitates more state and federal response.”

As evacuation warnings have been issued for parts of the city, many residents like Reeves have opted to remain in their homes. “I can’t just take him somewhere,” she said, referring to the difficulty of moving her disabled husband. “I can’t go to a hotel. He can’t get in the beds. I’m his 24-hour care.” Reeves has begun working with a contractor to implement plans that would lift her home on a steel foundation, although she understands this will be a personal financial burden.

Reeves expressed her desire to showcase the reality of her situation to Governor Newsom, insisting her experience is shared by many. “This is what Mother Nature is doing,” she concluded.

Source: ABC News