A state of emergency has been declared in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, as an ancient landslide reactivated by recent tunneling threatens homes and infrastructure.

According to The Mirror US, the crisis has forced power shutoffs to 140 homes and left residents grappling with the sight of their properties and streets deteriorating around them.

The situation in the Los Angeles suburb has escalated rapidly, with land movement accelerating to up to a foot per week. Officials attribute the crisis to a combination of heavy rainfall over the past two winters and recent tunneling activities that have disturbed what City Manager Ara Mihranian describes as an "ancient landslide" dating back thousands of years.

State Of Emergency Mobilizes Resources For Assistance

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Rancho Palos Verdes on Tuesday afternoon. This declaration aims to mobilize state resources to assist the beleaguered community as it grapples with the ongoing disaster.

The severity of the situation was underscored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn at a press conference on Monday. Hahn emphasized the unprecedented nature of the emergency and the profound impact on affected families.

Hahn stated:

I think we're all learning there is no playbook for an emergency like this one. What we do know is many families are struggling, are suffering, are feeling great anxiety about what is happening. They are watching their homes – they are watching their streets – crumble around them.

The supervisor also announced an additional $5 million in county funds to address the disaster, though she stressed that this amount falls far short of what will ultimately be required to manage the crisis.

Power Outages And Evacuation Warnings Implemented

As the land movement continues to pose significant risks, local authorities have taken drastic measures to ensure public safety. On Sunday, power was cut to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes, accompanied by an evacuation warning for residents.

The following day, Southern California Edison extended power outages to 105 homes in the Seaview neighborhood due to landslide concerns. Officials have warned that other areas may face similar measures if conditions continue to deteriorate.

City Manager Mihranian linked the current crisis to specific geological conditions, noting that while the problem was initially triggered by heavy rains in 2023, the underlying issue stems from an ancient landslide that has been disturbed by recent tunneling activities along Crenshaw Boulevard.

Regional Impact And Funding Challenges Highlighted

The scale of the disaster has prompted calls for a broader response beyond the capabilities of a single municipality. Supervisor Hahn emphasized the regional nature of the crisis, stating:

This is bigger than Rancho Palos Verdes. This land movement is so gigantic and so damaging that one city or one homeowners organization should not have to bear this burden alone.

The tunneling activities that contributed to the activation of the landslide have been ongoing for approximately a decade. Various projects, including public transportation tunnels and other developments, have taken place in the area during this time.

The coastal region, located about 30 miles from central Los Angeles, has experienced land movement for decades. However, the recent acceleration of landslides to rates of up to a foot per week has dramatically increased the urgency of the situation.

In conclusion, Rancho Palos Verdes faces an unprecedented emergency as an ancient landslide threatens homes and infrastructure. The state of emergency declaration and allocation of additional funds highlight the severity of the crisis. As power outages and evacuation warnings continue, officials stress the need for a coordinated regional response to address the ongoing disaster.