Residents of Rancho Palos Verdes, a scenic peninsula near Los Angeles, are grappling with primitive living conditions as landslides threaten their multimillion-dollar homes.
According to NBC News, many families are living without power or gas, relying on flashlights for illumination and driving miles away for basic necessities like hot meals and showers.
The situation has become dire for homeowners like Nick Mardesic, who has spent approximately $50,000 in the past five months to keep his house from collapsing. With sections of his front yard sinking by 3.5 feet and deep fissures appearing in his walls, Mardesic describes the scene as "something you see out of a movie."
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the worsening conditions on September 5, 2024. This declaration allows for the allocation of state resources, including emergency personnel, equipment, and services to assist the affected area.
However, some residents, like Jill Carlton, who has lived in the community for nearly three decades, express disappointment that individual aid has not been forthcoming. The city of Rancho Palos Verdes continues to urge state leaders to request a federal disaster declaration from President Biden, which could potentially trigger assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Mike Phipps, the city's geologist, reports that land movement has accelerated from several inches per year to between 9 and 12 inches weekly. While the rate has slightly decreased, it still averages about 4 feet per month, which Phipps describes as "significant movement."
The rapid land movement has had severe consequences for the community. The historic Wayfarers Chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's son, had to be dismantled earlier in the year. Roads throughout the city are buckling, with warning signs cautioning motorists about rough conditions and slide areas. Some residents believe that water leaks from burst pipes that were not adequately repaired are contributing to the land movement. This has led to a lawsuit against the city and its water provider, alleging negligence and failure to act.
The city faces significant challenges in addressing the landslide problem. A $23.3 million grant from FEMA for a project aimed at slowing land movement proved inadequate when crews discovered a deeper and wider landslide than initially thought.
Mayor John Cruikshank acknowledges the difficulties in securing funding for solutions and preparing for the upcoming rainy season. He emphasizes the need for increased resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
The Mardesic family plans to relocate to their pool house, which is less at risk of falling down the hillside. Nick Mardesic, speaking about his family's situation, stated:
It's almost unbelievable … just watching your house sink away. What can we do but keep fixing our home and try to stay here? We have nowhere to go.
As the land continues to shift, residents of Rancho Palos Verdes are confronted with difficult choices. Some have been forced to abandon their homes due to severe damage or collapse. Others have left after their utilities were indefinitely shut off. Those who remain are relying on generators for power and propane for cooking.
Many homeowners, like Mardesic, are hoping for relocation assistance, stating that without help, they are unable to afford housing elsewhere in Southern California's expensive real estate market. The situation is particularly dire for those whose homes were once valued in the millions but are now at risk of total loss. Jill Carlton, reflecting on the community's predicament, said:
They've been pressuring him for a long time and hopefully he'll come down and actually visit us. [However, she is disappointed] there's still no aid to the individuals.
The ongoing crisis in Rancho Palos Verdes highlights the intersection of natural disasters, infrastructure challenges, and the human cost of climate change. As residents struggle to maintain their homes and livelihoods, the situation raises questions about long-term solutions for communities facing similar environmental threats. The coming months will be critical as the city and its residents brace for another rainy season while grappling with the current devastation and uncertainties about the future of their homes and community.
