RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif.—Another 54 homes impacted by continuing land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes will lose natural gas service Sept. 6, further adding to the woes faced by residents in danger of losing their homes entirely due to the slide.
According to the Southern California Gas Co., gas service will be cut off at 3 p.m. Friday to 29 homes in the western Seaview area and 25 homes in the Portuguese Bend Beach Club.
In a statement, the utility said a “sudden gas line break” occurred Aug. 30 on Exultant Drive in the Seaview area, and as a result “there is no way to safely continue gas service to 16 homes on Admirable Drive, eight homes on Dauntless Drive and five homes on Palos Verdes Drive.”
Issues with a separate gas line on Palos Verdes Drive South—which previously prompted the discontinuation of gas service to 135 homes in the Portuguese Bend area in late July—will now prompt the cutting off of service Friday to 25 homes in the Portuguese Bend Beach Club area, with the affected residences on Sea Urchin Lane, Seascape Road, Seawall Road, Spindrift Drive, Spindrift Lane, and Yacht Harbor Drive.
“At this time, SoCalGas does not know when it will be safe to restore service to these communities,” according to the Gas Co. “We understand this situation remains difficult and uncertain for many in the community. Emergency disaster relief may be available to customers affected by these shutoffs. More information about SoCalGas’ Emergency Disaster Relief program can be found at socalgas.com/EDR.”
Rancho Palos Verdes city officials said there are no evacuation orders in place for the Seaview or Portuguese Bend Beach Club areas, so residents are free to remain in their homes, even if they have lost gas and electrical service.
On Monday, Southern California Edison cut electricity service to 105 residences in the Seaview area impacted by the landslide concerns, although 47 of those were expected to have their service restored within 24 hours. On Sunday, 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend community had their electrical service turned off. Those residents were placed under an evacuation warning, although many of them have opted to remain in their homes.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Sept. 3 in the city in an effort to free up state resources to assist in the response.
“The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been coordinating with the city and county for nearly a year to support the response to the land movement, including providing technical assistance, supporting the local assistance center, facilitating a federal mitigation grant for groundwater work in the area, and helping officials with initial damage estimates,” according to a statement from Newsom’s office.
Some local officials have been pressuring Newsom to visit the city to view the impact of the landslides and to provide state assistance for residents. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said during a news conference Sept. 1 that she had committed another $5 million in county funds to respond to the disaster, but far more money would be needed.
Hahn said she reached out to Newsom’s office on Aug. 31, and estimated that upward of $1 billion in government funding might eventually be needed to address the situation.
The city of Rancho Palos Verdes declared a local emergency earlier this summer.
The land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes has accelerated across 680 acres following heavy rains in spring 2023, causing damage to homes, roads, and utilities.
“There is no playbook for an emergency like this one,” Hahn said Sunday. “... We’re sparing no expense. ... This is bigger than Rancho Palos Verdes. This land movement is so gigantic and so damaging, that one city should not have to bear the burden alone.”
Residents can also call 800-250-7339 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for updated information.
