Collapsed homes after they slid down a hill along a street in the Rolling Hills States neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on July 10, 2023. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Officials in a southern California city will vote Aug. 6 on whether to declare a new local emergency after gas service was permanently shut off last week to 135 homes sitting on an ancient—but active—landslide.
City leaders in Rancho Palos Verdes are looking for federal aid as some residents were “blindsided” by the sudden loss of natural gas July 29, creating an emergency, according to a city spokesperson.
The area in question where the shutoffs occurred is Portuguese Bend, which, like all of Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula—which encompasses Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates—was built on top of an ancient landslide. It reactivated in 1956 and is one of the largest continuously active landslides in the United States, according to city officials.
The movement has accelerated in recent years due to heavy rain. The city received 200 percent more rainfall during the 2022 winter than average, creating slippery ground conditions, with the land now moving 9 to 12 inches per week, officials said.
In the 2023–24 fiscal year, the city has so far spent more than $2.2 million in repairs and maintenance for the main road in the community—Palos Verdes Drive South—which will likely cost “significantly” more next year, as current movement requires roads to be repaved every two to three weeks, according to the city.
After their gas was shut off last month, affected residents may now lose their power as land movement threatens to tumble electricity poles, which could spark fires, according to Southern California Edison (SCE).
An SCE spokesperson said as the ground moves, electricity poles can lean and cause tension or slack to power lines, which can be dangerous.
“We know this is a difficult time for this community, the safety of our employees, customers and communities remains our top priority,” spokesperson Reggie Kumar said in a letter to customers July 30.
Crews will soon deploy sensors to help detect if the poles are moving, according to Kumar.
In October 2023, the city declared a state of emergency over the landslide, which has been renewed multiple times. As a result, SCE is regularly inspecting their electrical equipment in the area with helicopters, ground crews, drones, and all-terrain vehicles, Kumar said.
While there are no imminent plans to shut off residents’ power, if the movement continues, it could be inevitable.
According to Kumar, all utility equipment is designed for stable ground, but because of the “dynamic situation,” customers should prepare for their power to be shut off, he said.
“No design can be guaranteed to withstand the current pace of the land movement for an indefinite period,” he said.
Collapsed homes after they slid down a hill in the Rolling Hills States neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on July 10, 2023. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Previously, SoCalGas said the decision to shut off gas service came after several months of closely monitoring the situation with the help of city officials and third-party experts.
During the process, workers relocated more than 600 feet of gas pipeline, added flexible pipeline joints to allow for some land movement, and installed an isolation valve to quickly shut off gas flow in case of an emergency, gas officials said July 30.
They also said some assistance is available for the affected homeowners, including a one-time payment of $2,500.
The city is encouraging residents to visit the Ladera Linda Community Center on Aug. 6 and Aug. 8 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. to learn more about available resources from Los Angeles County, state agencies, nonprofits, and other emergency preparedness services.
According to the city, the Portuguese Bend Community Association will also host a fair on an unspecified date for homeowners to meet contractors and professionals who can offer guidance on gas conversion permits, which allows alternative energy sources for heating homes, and solar power services.
The community association was not immediately available for comment by publication time.
The Wayfarers Chapel following its closure due to land movement after heavy rains in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Feb. 16, 2024. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Last year, two Rancho Palos Verdes homes were red-tagged in the spring, and several dirt trails and roads have washed away, according to city officials.
The iconic Wayfarers Chapel, a popular wedding venue in Rancho Palos Verdes known for its glass walls, was also permanently closed this year due to land movement and is in the process of being deconstructed, to preserve the chapel.
