RANCHO PALOS VERDES (CNS) - City and county officials have scheduled a news conference Sunday to provide residents in the Portuguese Bend community of Rancho Palos Verdes with details before their electricity is shutoff amid worsening landslides that have accelerated across 680 acres following heavy rains, causing damage to homes, roads and utilities.
The 11 a.m. Sunday briefing comes as residents remain under an evacuation warning due to the planned power shutdown at noon, according to city officials.
"SCE has determined there is a public safety threat. Electricity service will be discontinued in these zones effective Sunday, September 1 at 12 p.m. PST," officials announced Saturday. "DO NOT USE WATER OR PLUMBING AFTER THE POWER IS SHUT OFF -- THIS COULD RESULT IN A SEWER SPILL. All persons in these zones should prepare to evacuate and seek alternative housing. Pack important documents, medications, and essential items. Make arrangements for pets and animals," the statement continued.
Officials said an emergency assistance center be open Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Ladera Linda Community Center at 32201 Forrestal Drive, the site of the news conference.
Residents of 140 homes, as well as some nearby city equipment powered by the utility, will have power lines deactivated indefinitely, David Eisenhauer, a SoCal Edison spokesman told reporters.
The affected areas can be found at rpvca.gov/1707/Land-Movement-Updates.
Officials said residents could also check to see whether they are in the evacuation area at protect.genasys.com/search or on the genasys Protect app.
Saturday's warning was the latest development in an ongoing crisis related to land movement that began over a year ago.
On July 29, despite protests from residents and city officials, Southern California Gas Co. cut off natural gas service to 135 homes in the city's Portuguese Bend community due to concerns about the land movement.
Residents spent the first weekend after the gas shutoff hustling to find propane and electric alternatives so they could stay in their homes. Officials did not order evacuations at that time because no gas leaks were detected.
Gas company officials said the area "continues to experience significant new land movement damaging roads, homes and further threatening the safety of SoCalGas' infrastructure."
Land movement has increased following the heavy rains that impacted the area starting in the spring of 2023.
The city had warned residents that Southern California Edison officials said they might discontinue electricity in the future if conditions warranted.
City officials declared a local emergency due to the movement. Since spring 2023, the area has seen a significant increase in movement that has resulted in roadway damage and the red-tagging of two homes that were damaged severely enough to be dangerous to inhabit.
The land movement has also caused water and gas distribution pipes to break, displaced sanitary sewer collection pipes and made utility poles lean.
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