Land Movement Forces Power Shutoffs in Rancho Palos Verdes, Affecting Hundreds of Homes Amid Safety Concerns

The Rancho Palos Verdes community is facing escalating issues due to shifting land, which has prompted Southern California Edison (SCE) to shut off power to 140 homes and announce additional shutoffs for 105 more homes starting Monday. The land movement is causing significant damage to electrical equipment, creating safety concerns.

While some of these power outages will be temporary, affecting 47 homes for 24 hours and 38 homes for 1-3 weeks, around 20 homes in the most affected areas will lose power indefinitely. Residents are grappling with the impact, expressing shock and concern over the legality and consequences of these actions.

Earlier, on Sunday, SCE initiated power shutoffs in the Portuguese Bend community, where residents had already been warned of potential evacuations due to worsening landslides across 680 acres.

These landslides have been a growing problem since the heavy rains of spring 2023, leading to widespread damage to homes, roads, and utilities. Despite backup generators providing temporary relief, the situation remains dire, with the land movement now classified as a public safety threat.

L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has been vocal about the severity of the situation, emphasizing that the scale of the disaster extends beyond Rancho Palos Verdes and requires state-level attention. She has reiterated her call for Governor Gavin Newsom to visit the area and has committed an additional $5 million in county funds to address the crisis.

Hahn’s comments highlight the unprecedented nature of the emergency and the need for significant resources to manage the ongoing land movement and its consequences.

In response to the crisis, an emergency assistance center was established at the Ladera Linda Community Center, offering support for affected residents. The center provides information on various services, including discounted hotel rates, pet relocation, mental health support, and emergency preparedness.

Authorities have urged residents to be prepared for evacuation at any moment and have taken steps to prevent looting by authorizing drone surveillance in vulnerable areas.

The power shutoff is the latest in a series of disruptions caused by the land movement. Earlier, in July, Southern California Gas Co. cut off natural gas service to 135 homes due to similar concerns, forcing residents to find alternative energy sources. The city had previously warned that electricity could also be discontinued if the situation worsened, a prediction that has now come true as land movement continues to threaten infrastructure and public safety.

The crisis has also resulted in environmental hazards, such as a 10,000-gallon sewer spill on private property due to damaged sewer pipes. The spill highlighted the urgent need to address the land movement and prevent further damage to critical infrastructure.

The city is working closely with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to expedite repairs and implement measures to slow the land movement, underscoring the broad and severe impact of the ongoing geological instability in Rancho Palos Verdes.