Buyout Program Offers $42 Million for Restoration of Landslide-Ravaged Homes in Portuguese Bend

Rancho Palos Verdes, California – The federal government has allocated $42 million to Rancho Palos Verdes to help fund buyouts for homeowners severely impacted by ongoing landslides in the Portuguese Bend area. The initiative, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s hazard mitigation assistance grants, aims to offer a long-term solution for residents in the region grappling with unprecedented land movement causing property damage and utility shutoffs. The program allows property owners to voluntarily sell their homes to the city, with offers set at 75% of the property’s pre-disaster fair market value.

Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank emphasized the significance of the buyout program in providing compensation to community members facing substantial losses due to the recent land movement. While the announcement comes after months of residents seeking state and federal assistance amid escalating land movement, only a fraction of the affected properties are eligible for the buyout. Approximately 260 homes across three neighborhoods in Rancho Palos Verdes have been impacted by the landslide in recent months.

Some residents, like Mike Hong, are hopeful that the buyout will offer a lifeline amidst the devastation caused to their homes. Others, like Sallie Reeves and Marianne Hunter, have chosen to remain in their homes despite the damage, highlighting their attachment to the community and the challenges of finding comparable housing elsewhere. City officials emphasized that the buyout program will not affect ongoing mitigation efforts or winter preparedness work, with a priority placed on acquiring homes that are deemed unsafe or at risk of significant damage in the near future.

While traditionally used in flood-prone areas, the buyout program has been customized for the landslide situation in collaboration with FEMA and the California governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Acquired properties will be converted into open space, with structures demolished to minimize future development and disaster risks. Eligibility criteria for the buyout program include the condition that structures must remain on their original permitted lots, presenting a challenge for residents whose homes have shifted due to extensive land movement.

Despite facing financial challenges and a recent denial of reimbursements from FEMA for landslide-related costs, Rancho Palos Verdes is determined to appeal the decision and explore alternative funding sources. The city’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the landslide and support affected residents reflect a commitment to addressing the impacts of natural disasters and ensuring the safety of the community. Interested property owners have until November 4 to request a property inspection to determine eligibility for the buyout program, signaling a new chapter in the region’s resilience against land movement and disaster risks.