Power cut to over 200 homes near Los Angeles amid ground shift
Accelerating ground shift leads to power cuts, increased patrols in Rancho Palos Verdes
Power will be cut to more than 200 homes near Los Angeles by the end of Monday due to a long-standing ground shift threatening utility lines. Rancho Palos Verdes city council member Barbara Ferraro expressed uncertainty on Sunday. “This is unprecedented,” she said. “No one really knows what to do.”
On Sunday, Southern California Edison cut electricity to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend community. The outage is indefinite because shifting ground threatens utility poles, increasing the fire risk.
According to SoCal Edison spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy, a recent small fire was caused by land movement that brought down a power line. “This shows how dangerous this area is,” she said.
Landslide in pricey #LosAngeles neighbourhood prompt power cuts, property damage pic.twitter.com/q5MSbeC3f9
Multimillion-dollar homes in the Southern #California city of Rancho Palos Verdes are now under threat as a worsening landslide has prompted an evacuation warning for more…
— ⚡️🌎 World News 🌐⚡️ (@ferozwala) September 3, 2024
An additional 105 customers will lose power Monday evening as the company continues to monitor the ground movement threat.
Rancho Palos Verdes, an oceanfront community in southwestern Los Angeles County, west of Long Beach, became an independent city in 1973.
Officials noted that the land in Rancho Palos Verdes has been shifting slowly for decades but has worsened recently. City council member David Bradley stated, “The movement has accelerated dramatically over the last 12 months, with some areas moving up to 10 inches a week. You can almost see the ground move.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced increased patrols and drone surveillance to prevent looting and encourage residents to heed evacuation warnings. “You’re going to jail if you come here to steal anything,” he warned on Sunday.
Rancho Palos Verdes has been under a local state of emergency since October 2023. Natural gas service was shut off in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood on July 29.
Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn revealed Sunday that Los Angeles County has allocated an additional $5 million for disaster response. She hopes Governor Gavin Newsom will declare a state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Hahn noted the long-standing landslide’s recent acceleration demands more state and federal response. “The acceleration currently happening is beyond what any of us could have foretold,” she said.
What Other Media Are Saying
- NBC News reports on a power cut affecting 140 homes in coastal California due to worsening landslides, with residents facing evacuation alerts and utility disruptions.(read more)
- Yahoo News reports on landslides in LA’s upscale Rancho Palos Verdes, forcing power cuts to 140 homes due to severe ground movement, with officials warning of potential fires and mandating no electricity supply to prevent wildfire risks.(read more)
- ABC7 reports on the ongoing power shutoffs in Rancho Palos Verdes due to landslides, with residents preparing for new rounds of outages and evacuation warnings.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why are homes in Rancho Palos Verdes losing power?
Ground shifts are threatening utility lines, leading to power cuts to prevent fires.
How many homes are affected by the power cut?
Over 200 homes will have their power cut by the end of Monday.
What caused the recent fire in Rancho Palos Verdes?
A small fire was caused by a fallen utility line due to land movement.
Why has the ground movement in Rancho Palos Verdes worsened recently?
Ground movement has accelerated dramatically, with some areas moving up to 10 inches a week.
What measures are being taken to prevent looting during the evacuation?
Law enforcement is increasing patrols and using drones to monitor for looting.
