Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Urges Governor Newsom to Declare State of Emergency for Gas Shutoffs

Days after SoCalGas abruptly discontinued natural gas service to approximately 135 homes in the Portuguese Bend community due to land movement, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom declare a state of emergency to help impacted residents.

On Aug. 6, the city council voted to declare a local state of emergency due to a sudden and severe energy shortage, as defined in the California Emergency Services Act. For more than one week, residents in the Portuguese Bend Community Association have been scrambling to find alternate means of heating water, cooking meals, and warming homes in preparation for a potentially rainy winter season. The day after gas service was cut, Southern California Edison put even more customers in the wider landslide area on notice that, due to land movement, it may discontinue electricity in the future, if conditions warrant. The city now faces two emergencies: the ongoing landslide and mass utility shutoffs.

In a letter (PDF) to Gov. Newsom, Mayor John Cruikshank requested a state of emergency be declared to make public and individual financial and in-kind assistance — such as from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — available to the community. The letter requested permitting requirements be waived or suspended for projects to help impacted residents.

At the Aug. 6 meeting, the council also voted to extend the city’s existing local emergency in the landslide area. Both local declarations must be renewed every 60 days to remain in effect. Watch a recording of the discussion, which included an update on property inspections, on the city website.

The city is exploring every avenue to slow the land movement and to assist residents impacted by this crisis.

Details: For additional information, email landmovement@rpvca.gov or call 310-544-5200.