Rancho Palos Verdes Landslide Emergency

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes, a Los Angeles suburb, due to the threat of ongoing landslides. Hundreds of homes in the area are without electricity, and residents in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood remain under evacuation warnings.

The area is located on the Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex, which has experienced increased land movement following severe storms in the past two years. The ground is currently moving about a foot a week, posing a significant threat to infrastructure and public safety.

The land movement has damaged roadways and forced the city to declare two homes unsafe for occupancy. Southern California Gas Company has also stopped supplying natural gas to hundreds of homes due to safety concerns. The shifting earth puts electric equipment and utility poles at risk, raising the threat of wildfires.

The city has set plans for an "Emergency Hydraugers Project" that would involve constructing wells in the Portuguese Bend Landslide complex to extract water and slow down land movement. In May, the city council approved construction contracts for two hydraugers.

Rancho Palos Verdes is known for its lavish beachfront properties and world-renowned resorts, including Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles. However, the ongoing landslide crisis has caused significant disruption and uncertainty for residents.