Governor Newsom Declares State Of Emergency In LA County City Over Worsening Landslides

Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of Emergency in the Los Angeles County city of Rancho Palos Verdes on Tuesday following several days of a landslide occurring in the Portuguese Bend community, causing power, gas, and sewer services to be shut off for hundreds of people.

Earth shifting first began happening in 2023 following major storms in the area. This was accelerated by more storms earlier this year, with gas providers shutting off gas to the community in late July following concerns what the movements could to to pipes. In some areas, the earth began moving as much as a foot a week. However, the major landslide began last week. While small at first, the event quickly began warping streets in the community, with the earth moving so much that it then downed an electric pole, starting a small fire. Local and County officials soon began issuing evacuation plans. Those plans grew more harried over the weekend as the situation grew worse. Southern California Edison cut electricity to 140 homes over fire concerns.

“This is an ever-changing crisis as we navigate through this, and we need to be prepared,” explained Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager Ara Mihranian on Sunday. “That is the only way we can stay safe.”

An evacuation order for over 100 homes in a 680 acre area was quickly announced. Then, on Monday, another 105 homes lost power as SoCal Edison expanded the shutoff area. Residents were incensed as they were given only 24 hours of the notice, causing many to scramble to get generators and other emergency equipment.

“The land movement in the Portuguese Bend community has created such a dangerous situation that we have made the very difficult decision to disconnect power indefinitely to prevent that equipment from igniting wildfire,” said SoCal Edison Vice President Larry Chung at a press conference on Monday.

As of Tuesday, evacuation orders are still not mandatory despite the worsening conditions, although many residents have already left. With emergency areas set up for residents and more shutoffs expected soon, Governor Newsom announced a state of emergency in the area on Tuesday.

State of Emergency

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, Government Code section 8625, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes due to the impacts of the acute acceleration of land movement on the provision of basic utility services,” said Newsom in his order.

“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

l. All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all residents are to obey the direction of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety.

2. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide assistance to local governments, if appropriate, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, Government Code section 8680 et seq., and California Code of Regulations, Title 19, section 2900 et seq.”

In an official press statement, the Governor’s office added, “Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a state of emergency in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to protect public safety amid ongoing land movement that has resulted in disrupted utility services and evacuation warnings for impacted residents.

The city is located on four out of five sub-slides that comprise the Greater Portuguese Landslide Complex. Land movement at part of the Complex has significantly accelerated following severe storms in 2023 and 2024.”

It is currently unknown if more evacuations are to be ordered, if mandatory evacuations are to go into effect, or if more utilities are to be shut down to more homes.

“It’s a clifftop area. I mean, Trump’s Golf Course is right around the bend there,” explained soil and erosion consultant Thomas Hughes to the Globe on Tuesday. “It’s kind of a dire situation there. Yes, no mandatory orders have been given to evacuate, but it is going to be tough for people to stay with no electricity or most other major services going on there. But you also have to remember that these are people’s homes in a very wealthy area of a county. They aren’t going anywhere unless there are no options left. Look at all the people who refuse to leave wildfire zones and hurricane paths.

“I can’t say if it is going to get better or worse soon. Like any landslide, we have to see how it runs its course. Luckily the state and county are monitoring it closely.”

More service shutdowns are likely later this week.