CALIFORNIA CITY’S LANDSLIDES MAY BE UNSTOPPABLE

Rancho Palos Verdes, a small coastal community in the Los Angeles area, has been sitting atop steep cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean that have been slowly shifting and giving way for hundreds of years. The land beneath this picturesque town has been moving for centuries, but it was mostly stable until a road construction project in the 1950s triggered the landslide to accelerate.

A GEOLOGICAL TICKING TIME BOMB

The situation is made worse by the fact that landslide damage is often covered by homeowners’ insurance policies. Jonathan Godt, the landslides hazards program coordinator at the U.S. Geological Service, warned that it’s not yet clear what, if anything, can be done to stop the land from moving. “Basic physics says that once a body is in motion, it wants to stay in motion,” Godt said.

THE IMPACT: HUNDREDS OF HOMES WITHOUT POWER, ROADS BUCKLED

A person walks along landslide damage in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2024. (NBC News)

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in the city. Over 140 homes will be without power indefinitely, while around 60 in the city’s Seaview section will be without service for a week or longer.

THE COMMUNITY RALLIES TOGETHER

Residents are already on the hook for damage to their homes and are relying on their own resources to make do with solar panels and battery technologies. “We’re resilient,” said Tim Kelly, a mechanical engineer who moved to the Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes 30 years ago. “We’re not going anywhere.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

The city has allocated money for landslide abatement efforts, but it’s unclear what solutions will be implemented. The situation is complex and requires urgent attention from government leaders and scientists. In conclusion, the sliding land in Rancho Palos Verdes may not be stoppable, and the consequences are already being felt by residents who are forced to rely on their own resources to make do with the damage caused by the landslides.

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Rancho Palos Verdes has been a popular destination for tourists and residents alike due to its picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean. However, the town’s location atop steep cliffs overlooking the ocean has made it prone to landslides for centuries. In fact, there have been several recorded instances of landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes dating back to the 19th century.

A CLIMATE CHANGE CONNECTION?

Some experts believe that climate change may be exacerbating the situation in Rancho Palos Verdes. As temperatures rise and rainfall becomes more unpredictable, the ground beneath the town is becoming increasingly unstable. This instability can lead to a greater likelihood of landslides occurring.

THE FUTURE: A CHALLENGING PROSPECT

If the landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes cannot be stopped or slowed, it may have significant implications for the community and the surrounding region. The town’s infrastructure is already under strain due to the landslides, and further damage could lead to a complete collapse of the local economy.

CONCLUSION

The sliding land in Rancho Palos Verdes may not be stoppable, and the consequences are already being felt by residents who are forced to rely on their own resources to make do with the damage caused by the landslides. It’s a ticking time bomb that requires urgent attention from government leaders and scientists.

SOURCES:

• NBC News: “California city hit by landslides was at risk for decades, and the slipping may not be stoppable”
• U.S. Geological Service: Landslides Hazards Program Coordinator Jonathan Godt

IMAGE CREDITS: Aerial view of damage from landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on Sept. 3 (NBC News)