"Almost three years after landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes began accelerating and expanding, prompting an ongoing local emergency, federal officials have secured the area some long-requested federal aid. U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Ted Lieu announced Thursday that officials in Rancho Palos Verdes are set to receive almost $2.3 million for two landslide mitigation projects. These are the first federal funds directed to the landslide area since the city declared a local emergency in October 2023, when land movement began reaching unprecedented levels, tearing up roads, splitting homes and upending utilities."
"Dozens have been forced to relocate, though most residents are doing all they can to stay - even if it means living without utility-powered electricity. Local officials are hopeful the money can help prevent future upticks in land movement and, ideally, formalize a new pathway for additional federal funding to address the city's ongoing hazards and worsening budget crisis. "It's a long time coming," said Gordon Leon, chair of the Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement District, which is a resident-funded, volunteer-run assessment district that works to mitigate the landslide. "I'm certainly hopeful that we can continue this.""
"But he also acknowledged that it's far from enough to address the needs of his community; they had initially requested more than $20 million to tackle one mitigation project. This $2.3 million is supposed to go toward two different projects. "We're going to have to see how we can tighten our belts and make the most out of [the funds] in terms of impact," Leon said. The first half $1.145 million of the federal money will be directed to the Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement District to improve drainage at the toe of the Abalone Cove landslide, which primarily affects the Portuguese Bend community."
Federal officials secured nearly $2.3 million for two landslide mitigation projects in Rancho Palos Verdes. The funding follows almost three years of accelerating landslides that prompted an ongoing local emergency and began reaching unprecedented levels in October 2023. Land movement has torn up roads, split homes, and disrupted utilities, forcing dozens to relocate while many residents remain despite limited access to utility-powered electricity. The funds are intended to help prevent future increases in land movement and support a pathway for additional federal funding amid a worsening city budget crisis. The Abalone Cove project will improve drainage at the toe of the Abalone Cove landslide, affecting the Portuguese Bend community.
#landslides #disaster-relief-funding #rancho-palos-verdes #infrastructure-and-utilities #local-emergency
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