Southern California Edison (SCE) has already cut power to 140 homes, with another 105 expected to lose electricity by Monday night as the shifting ground poses a threat to utility lines.
“SCE has identified a public safety threat,” the utility company said, announcing that electricity service would be discontinued in the affected zones starting Sunday, September 1, at 12 PM. They warned residents not to use water or plumbing after the power is cut, as this could result in a sewer spill.
‘This situation is unprecedented’
“This situation is unprecedented,” said Rancho Palos Verdes City Council member Barbara Ferraro on Sunday. “We are unsure how to proceed.”
City officials reported that homes, roads, and infrastructure have already been damaged by the landslide, which has accelerated since heavy rains in the spring of 2023.
County allocates $5 million
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced a $5 million allocation to address the disaster, noting the severity of the land movement.
Hahn urges governor to declare state of emergency
Hahn has urged Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency, highlighting the unprecedented acceleration of the landslide and the need for a greater state and federal response.
On Monday, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services said it is working with emergency officials in Los Angeles County. “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is in ongoing communication with the City, County, and FEMA regarding the evolving situation in Rancho Palos Verdes,” the agency said in a statement.
Infrastructure damage and safety concerns
Officials reported that the shifting land has caused leaks in water and gas lines, with at least two homes declared uninhabitable. Earlier this month, the landslide caused a 10,000-gallon sewer spill. A fire last week, sparked by a downed power line due to shifting land, highlights the dangers in the area, according to Southern California Edison spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy.
The landslide, which has intensified with some areas shifting up to 10 inches a week, has led to increased patrols and drone surveillance by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to prevent looting. Sheriff Robert Luna warned, “Anyone caught stealing will be arrested.”
Rancho Palos Verdes has been under a local state of emergency since October 2023, with natural gas shut off in the Portuguese Bend area on July 29. The slow-moving landslide, part of an ancient complex activated by a 1956 road expansion, is one of the largest active landslides in the US, shifting homes by hundreds of feet and costing the city about $1 million annually for road repairs.