Palos Verdes landslide area. Photo provided by: @AsmMuratsuchi X
Homeowners on the Southern California peninsula whose homes were damaged and utilities cut off by worsening landslides will be eligible for a $42 million voluntary buyout program provided by state and federal authorities.
The program was announced Monday night at a special town hall meeting for Rancho Palos Verdes residents affected by land relocation. The funding will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
“This acquisition program provides a viable path for our most vulnerable community members, providing them with the opportunity to relocate and rebuild with meaningful compensation,” said Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank. said.
Over the past two years, more than 250 homes in the city south of Los Angeles have been affected by land displacement or utility shutoffs.
Many residents say they are facing costs of up to $100,000 as they rush to strengthen their foundations, switch to off-grid solar energy and convert natural gas lines to propane.
KCAL-TV reports that the FEMA funds were allocated after federal officials declared a disaster after wet winter storms in January and February caused more landslides.
This voluntary program aims to help eligible homeowners relocate to safer areas by offering fair market value for their homes based on pre-disaster appraisals. Properties acquired by the city through this program will be permanently converted to open space and deeds will be restricted, protecting the community from future redevelopment risks in these vulnerable areas, KCAL reported.
The landslide is the latest disaster in California, already burdened by worsening wildfires and extreme weather events ranging from heat waves to torrential rains that have caused flooding and landslides over the past year.
In Rancho Palos Verdes, entire homes were destroyed or torn apart. The walls shifted and large cracks appeared in the ground. Evacuation orders have been issued, and electricity and gas have been shut off in some parts of the area. Some are battling temporary water outages to repair sewer lines.
Nearly 70 years ago, the Portugal Bend landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes was caused by the construction of a road through an area atop an ancient landslide. 140 houses were destroyed at the time, and the land has since been relocated.
But after heavy rains hit Southern California over the past two years, the previously slow-moving landslides began to accelerate rapidly. Land that once moved an average of a few inches a year is now moving between 9 and 12 inches every week.
Property owners interested in applying for the buyout program must request a voluntary property inspection from the city by Monday, November 4th, and submit a completed program application by November 8th. . Properties are prioritized based on safety concerns, construction, and other factors. Condition and usage.
