A Slow-Moving Disaster: The Portuguese Bend Landslide Crisis
In the picturesque coastal community of Portuguese Bend, nestled within the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California, a silent and slow-moving natural disaster is unfolding. Sheri Hastings’ property, like many others in this area, sits atop a massive landslide complex that has been shifting for nearly 70 years. While the movement was once gradual—about a few inches annually—the pace has recently accelerated alarmingly, with some areas moving as fast as four inches a week. Scientists attribute this sudden surge to heavy rainfall and runoff from recent atmospheric rivers, which have saturated the soil and destabilized the ground. The landslide complex, spanning over a square mile and reaching depths of hundreds of feet in some areas, is steadily inching its way toward the Pacific Ocean.
A Lifelong Study: The Scientist Monitoring the Slide
Mike Phipps, a geologist with nearly four decades of experience studying the Palos Verdes Peninsula, has been contracted by the city to monitor the landslide’s movement. Phipps describes the situation as a "catastrophe," where residents are essentially "riding a big raft down the hill." The city’s approach to mitigating the landslide includes a network of deep water wells that extract groundwater and redirect it into the ocean. While these measures aim to slow the movement, the situation remains precarious, with the sheer scale of the landslide making it a formidable challenge.
A Voluntary Buyout Program: A Bittersweet Offer
In October, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced a $42 million voluntary buyout program for residents most affected by the landslide. The program allows the city to acquire the most vulnerable properties and convert them into open spaces, potentially reducing the risk for remaining residents. Of the 85 residents who applied for the program, only an estimated 20 homes are expected to be covered in the initial funding round. Despite this opportunity, Sheri Hastings is among those who are hesitant to participate.
A Tough Decision: Why Sheri Hastings Isn’t Selling
Hastings has dismissed the buyout offer, calling it "not a good deal." Under the program, residents receive 75% of their home’s value based on assessments from two years prior. Additionally, they are responsible for covering demolition costs and removal of debris. For Hastings, this offer falls short of what she believes is fair. "You get 75% of the value, and then you have to pay to demolish everything," she explained. Her frustration is compounded by the lack of insurance coverage for the damage to her property, leaving her life savings at risk. "Our homes were our money," she said. "We can’t just go out and buy another home."
A Community in Crisis: The Human Cost of the Landslide
Hastings’ story is not unique. Many residents in Portuguese Bend are facing similar challenges, with their homes and savings slipping away literally and figuratively. Despite the perceived wealth of the area, many homeowners are not millionaires and have invested their life savings into their properties. The landslide has not only threatened their homes but also their sense of security and belonging. As the ground beneath them continues to shift, these residents are left to navigate a complex web of bureaucratic processes, financial uncertainty, and emotional turmoil.
A Fragile Future: The Road Ahead
As the situation in Portuguese Bend remains unresolved, the broader implications of this environmental crisis become clear. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as atmospheric rivers, highlights the vulnerability of communities like this one to climate-related disasters. While the buyout program offers a temporary solution for some, it does not address the root causes of the landslide or provide long-term stability for the remaining residents. For Sheri Hastings and others like her, the future remains uncertain, as they cling to their homes and hope for a resolution that may never come.
