Driving through Rancho Palos Verdes, California, has become a bumpy experience as city workers race to repair roads buckling under the pressure of shifting land. The land, built upon a vast ancient landslide, has been moving gradually for years. However, this year’s heavy rainfall has led to trapped water, accelerating the movement to an alarming rate of about a foot per week. Mike Phipps, a city geologist, explains that the affected area has grown significantly, encompassing over 680 acres compared to the historical 380 acres. Nearly 100 homes have already been damaged. The impact on the real estate market is significant, with Ed Kaminsky, CEO of the Kaminsky Real Estate Group, highlighting the challenges for buyers. He explains that financing and insurance are unavailable for homes within the danger zone, making purchasing risky and limiting options to cash-only deals without insurance. The city is actively working on a project to mitigate the situation by installing drains and pumps to remove excess water from beneath the land. However, the future of Rancho Palos Verdes remains uncertain, with the focus currently on slowing down the land movement as quickly as possible.
Landslides Threaten Homes in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
