Twelve inches per week is how fast the ground is falling in the neighborhoods of Portuguese Bend and Seaview in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Gas and electricity supplies have been cut off one after the other since the disaster began a month ago along with evacuation orders. While the state government has declared a state of emergency and stepped in to help, residents are complaining of being stranded. Electricity service interruptions were necessary as they could lead to short circuits and downed power lines, which can cause fires.
On September 5, the Korea Daily visited the intersection of Dauntless and Stalwart Drives, one of the most severely damaged areas in Rancho Palos Verdes.
The cracked ground exposed pipelines that had been buried under the road. One home appeared to be entirely inaccessible from the damage.
The residents either stayed outside or left their doors open to watch the situation.
Construction workers blocked the road and warned, “Don’t go near the collapsed area, the ground is still unstable and dangerous.”
At one house, two power generators were running. Neighbors helped each other and prepared for potential emergencies.
Most homes had their windows and doors wide open. With the power out, people opened their doors to get some natural cooling since their air conditioners weren’t working.
“Workers are putting up temporary power lines,” Chris, a resident at Dauntless Drive, told his neighbor, ”I’ll be going to the grocery store, let me know if you need anything.”
Another resident called out to his neighbors, “There’s a lot of ice in the house, let me know if you need some.”
Authorities haven’t quite found a solution yet either. “It’s often difficult to get cranes or heavy equipment in to inspect the situation, let alone make repairs to facilities and equipment,” said a Southern California Edison (SCE) representative, adding, ”If the ground doesn’t stop moving, there isn’t much we can do.”
To make matters worse, the gas supply to an additional 54 homes is expected to be cut off on Friday, September 6, due to the ongoing cracks in the ground. Another 29 homes in the western part of the Seaview neighborhood and 25 homes at the Portuguese Bend Beach Club will also be affected.
Emergency disaster relief programs may be available for residents experiencing service interruptions, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) said on September 5.
However, residents have been reluctant to evacuate, because they have nowhere to go once they leave their homes.
Frustration with the city government is still growing by the hour.
“They’ve issued a warning, but there are virtually no shelters or financial assistance,” one resident complained to the city council, adding, ”Those who haven’t evacuated are sharing kitchens and washing machines and sharing food to survive.”
Financial assistance was not included in the state’s state of emergency. That’s where the major criticism stems from.
While the Rancho Palos Verdes city government is asking the state for financial assistance, temporary power poles have been installed in the Ladera Linda neighborhood.
“This experience has made me realize that the city’s attention and support may not mean so much to the actual residents,” said a resident of Seaview, adding, ”I think it’s just a matter of patience.”
Insurance claims are also likely to take a considerable amount of time, as the extent of the damage has not been measured. Experts say that individual homeowners’ insurance policies and contracts will determine whether or not they are covered.
The ground is not the only thing collapsing in Rancho Palos Verdes. The lives of residents are also being devastated.
BY BRIAN CHOI, YOONJAE JUNG, HOONSIK WOO
[choi.inseong@koreadaily.com, jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
