Portuguese Bend Slides Into Uncertainty

Andrew Lu • November 4, 2024

In past months, what has been a far-off issue to national and international news outlets has become a new reality for the locals of Rancho Palos Verdes. Landslides, which have a long history on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, increased in intensity following heavy rainy seasons in 2023 and 2024, recently culminating in the gradual sinking of dozens of homes in a region known informally as Portuguese Bend. Beginning in June and continuing through September, SoCal Gas and Southern California Edison, local utility providers, have shut off gas and electricity to the regions’ hundreds of residents due to fire risks caused by further land movement (CBS News). Four different neighborhoods have been encouraged to evacuate (City of RPV).

Many have struggled to cope with their new reality. With no definitive timeline for restored access to electricity and gas from utility companies, some have resorted to moving either to hotels or other rental properties. Safety has also been a concern, and police have been continually patrolling the area (FOX 11). But most people have chosen to stay, living in their homes with fissures in their flooring and sinking walls, adapting by installing solar panels, power generators and sewage systems (BBC News). Portuguese Bend resident and Peninsula junior Linus Ruchti shared his experience.

“We are in the process of getting [a] 70,000 kilowatt [generator], [and] we’ll eventually get solar [panels],” Ruchti said. “[We] have to be [independent of public] electricity. [My family’s goal] is to move back in [a] week in a half [once] that’s all [finished] setting up.”

Individual help has come largely from private organizations. The Ann and Steve Hinchliffe San Pedro and Peninsula YMCA has extended access to its lockers, showers and study rooms to those impacted (PVPUSD). In addition, neighborhood businesses have stepped up to help locals band together.

“Every Wednesday [at] an open field in our neighborhood, [Raffaello’s Pizza brings] huge platters of food [to local residents] so that’s nice,” Ruchti said. “For a while we didn’t have hot water, but our neighbor [offered] her house [to] us to shower [and] use hot water.”

The 680-acre, at-risk region comprises four different landslide complexes, all of which sit atop the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex (City of RPV). This inactive expanse of land was reactivated in 1956, after the County of Los Angeles attempted to extend Crenshaw Boulevard and moved excavated soil to the dormant region (Los Angeles Times). This additional weight disrupted the equilibrium of the land and has contributed to gradual land movement ever since. However, Rancho Palos Verdes, one of four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, has not been the only one to recently experience landslides. On July 8th, 2023, slope failures occurred along Peartree Lane in Rolling Hills Estates, forcing residents of seven townhome complexes to evacuate as the buildings slowly buckled and slid into the canyon below (Daily Breeze). GeoKinetics, an independent firm hired by the city, concluded that historically heavy rains from the previous winter were to blame (City of RHE).

Extensive efforts have been made by the city to mitigate the damage done by the landslide complex. As part of the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project, the city spent $10 million in May, installing two horizontal hydraugers to pump underground water to stabilize the surface. In addition, the city installed six vertical dewatering wells, which according to latest reports, have pumped one million gallons of water a day (City of RPV). Latest iterations of the project were updated at the RPV City Council meeting on Oct. 1, and appropriated $15.1 million for relief efforts. Prior to the most recent developments, an estimated $1 million has been allocated annually to make improvements to Palos Verdes Drive South, a key road which is used by 15,000 vehicles daily (City of RPV). Repairs approved in July were estimated to cost $5 million. Senior Loren Liu offered his opinion on the road situation.

“[Traffic] is horrible right now,” senior Liu said. “I think [they] were fixing [a] pipeline, so [the] two-way car lane got cut [off]. [It takes] 30 minutes plus to [drive] to school [now].”

After pleas from the RPV City Council for state support, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the city on Sept. 5, which will likely increase state assistance in city remediation efforts. Janice Hahn, the LA County Supervisor, also pledged financial support from the county for the affected and further investigation into the causes of the landslide. This most recently came in the form of $5 million transferred by her office, along with an exhortation to the city that financial assistance should be given to residents individually (Office of Supervisor Janice Hahn). Council members at the meeting on Oct. 1 voted to provide 280 affected homeowners with up to $10,000, using $2.8 million of the total $5 million transferred (City of RPV). Remaining funds will go toward other land remediation efforts, which includes filling canyon fissures to prevent water from percolating underground.

But while movement has now slowed to about two feet per month, the future is not very promising, especially with the upcoming winter season (CBS News). Despite this, locals are still pushing through. Senior Fung “Greg” Qiu, a nearby resident, expressed his view on the prospect of moving.

“I really had a good time at my house, and I have had my friends stay over,” Qiu said. “I have a sentimental attachment to it, so it would be hard to move away. I mean sometimes life doesn’t go as expected and I guess you just have to take it and [move] on.”

On Oct. 28, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) announced a $42 million voluntary buyout program to buy affected houses at market prices determined in December of 2022. FEMA will contribute to paying 75% of the properties’ values while homeowners must pay for the remaining 25%. More information about this can be found at the City of Rancho Palos Verdes website.