Newsom declares state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes – NBC Los Angeles

On Tuesday, a state of emergency was declared in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes after more households were left without power due to the earth shift.

Governor Gavin Newsom's declaration of a state of emergency would allow the state government to “leverage and deploy” state resources to help the nearly 300 people who live and work in the region without gas and electricity.

“The Governor's Office of Emergency Services has been coordinating efforts with the city and county for nearly a year to support the earthmoving response. This includes providing technical assistance, supporting the local response center, securing a federal mitigation grant for groundwater work in the area, and assisting officials with the initial damage assessment,” Newsom's office said in a statement.

According to Newsom's order, all state agencies must follow guidance from the Office of Emergency Services and the state's emergency response plan to ensure the safety of their neighbors.

“We felt his response was a little too long, but I guess better late than never,” said John Cruikshank, mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes.

“I am very pleased. The city has been asking the governor to declare a state of emergency and today's announcement was not timely,” said Ara Mihranian, city manager.

In the meantime, people living and working in the affected area are expected to follow the orders of emergency officials, the governor's proclamation said.

The declaration would also allow the state to provide additional assistance to local authorities under the California Disaster Assistance Act.

After several calls for assistance from the state, a state of emergency was declared in Rancho Palos Verdes because utilities had to shut off service to a community due to shifting ground. Karma Dickerson reports for NBC4 News on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 5 p.m.

After SoCalGas cut off gas service to the community due to the earthmoving in early August, Southern California Edison cut off power to 140 homes and 53 businesses in the Portuguese Bend community on Sunday and expanded the power shutoff to an additional 105 homes in the Seaview community on Monday.

“(Sunday) Southern California Edison (SCE) notified the city and 105 of the 270 homes in Seaview that their power will be interrupted for varying periods of time due to the risk of utility equipment starting a wildfire and other hazards from downed lines or equipment damaged by landslides,” the city said in an update Monday morning.

The power outage will last at least 24 hours. According to the city, 47 households will be without power for 24 hours; 40 households will be without power for 1 to 3 weeks; and 20 households will be without power indefinitely.

Possible solutions on the horizon

With support from the state and another $5 million secured from the county, local leaders are considering how to fix the disaster. Cruikshank said he is looking for long-term, off-grid solutions for his constituents.

The models under consideration also include Tesla’s Powerwall.

“I had a really great meeting with Tesla Energy,” the mayor said. “I met with them again today; they have already presented some workable solutions.”

Cruikshank did not elaborate on how the city might move forward with Tesla, but it could take weeks or even months to complete that path.

The frustration of the affected residents is growing

With many of the community's residents without services, those affected are demanding solutions that will help them in the long term. In the meantime, however, they are doing what they can.

“My toilet doesn't work because the macerator pumps have broken down and I have no electricity or cell phone,” said a resident named Cassie, who was at a community center for those affected.

“It takes a while to understand, so we're living day by day,” said David Blenko, whose home lost power on Monday.

A local resident said it was unclear who was affected by the closure and who was not.

“People west of us had power, some didn't,” said Jill Carlton, who lives in the area. “So there's no defined area that you can even account for right now. So I have no idea what's going to happen.”

Rancho Palos Verdes residents can check the city's website to see if they are in the areas affected by the power shutoff. Community members can click here to see if they are in an evacuation area.