A total of 17 homes remain under evacuation orders in Rolling Hills Estates, as a landslide has caused 10 of these homes to collapse. In response, the City Council has declared a local emergency in the Palos Verdes Peninsula neighborhood.
The cause of the devastating landslide remains unknown.
Over the weekend, 12 homes on Peartree Lane were deemed unsuitable for habitation and red-tagged due to the landslide, which inflicted severe damage on at least 10 of the structures.
An additional five homes received red tags on Tuesday due to a sewer line rupture caused by the shifting land, according to Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis.
County fire officials are closely monitoring other homes in the area to prevent potential shifting.
The Rolling Hills Estates City Council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday night, declaring a local emergency in response to the landslide.
A staff report prepared for the council states, “The estimated costs in responding to the Peartree Lane Land Movement Incident are unknown at this time due to the evolving nature of the situation. Adoption of this resolution will facilitate the city’s ability to request resources, including financial support and reimbursement from the State Office of Emergency Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
County Supervisor Janice Hahn and Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Britt Huff met with affected residents on Monday evening. County Assessor Jeff Prang, who was present at the meeting, assured residents that his office would work to prevent them from paying hefty property tax bills for homes that had been largely destroyed.
Prang stated that his office would expedite the process of re-assessing the affected properties to alleviate the financial burden on the owners.
Prang emphasized the need to relieve residents of the financial burden, stating, “We just need to make sure that we do everything we can to relieve them of any burdens, especially this financial burden, as quickly as possible.”
He clarified that the county would not grant a blanket waiver of property taxes, but instead, re-assessing the properties would result in either no or significantly reduced tax bills due to the extensive damage.
In a statement, Prang’s office mentioned that residents could file for additional relief under the Misfortune & Calamity program.
The Assessor’s Office explained, “By filing a claim for M&C relief within one year of the incident, properties that have sustained a minimum of $10,000 in damages may be eligible for a refund of taxes already paid as well as lower annual tax bills until the property is repaired or rebuilt.”
Homeowners have helplessly witnessed their houses collapse and sink into the ground. Hahn reported that some rooftops are now at ground level due to the ongoing collapse.
Most of the affected homes are considered complete losses.
County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated that fire crews are currently in a holding pattern, awaiting stability in the affected area.
Marrone commented, “We don’t know how long these homes will continue to move. At this time, we’re in a holding pattern, waiting for the final determination.”
Once the homes have stopped shifting, the homeowners association plans to bring in geologists and soil experts to investigate the incident and explore preventive measures for future occurrences.
Hahn expressed the hope that a thorough examination of the site will provide insight into the cause of the landslide and ways to prevent similar events on other hillsides.
Electricity in the area has been cut off since Saturday, and utility crews have ensured the safety of gas and power lines.
The American Red Cross has offered assistance to the evacuated families, providing hotel vouchers. However, most residents have already made alternate housing arrangements.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries.
While Hahn has reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom, they have not yet spoken about the situation. Hahn expressed her desire to invite the governor to visit the affected neighborhood.
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