Report on cause of massive Rolling Hills Estates landslide released

After a massive landslide destroyed a dozen homes and forced widespread evacuations in Rolling Hills Estates, a new report released Friday claims excessive rainfall was to blame for the destruction.
In July, when the ground shifted more than 40 feet on Peartree Lane on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, at least a dozen homes were destroyed or heavily damaged. Residents were forced to evacuate as homes were red-tagged and monitored for additional movement.
At the time, the cause of the massive landslide was a mystery as geologists and experts worked to determine the origin. Since then, two separate investigations were launched - one from city and county officials and another by the homeowners association.
KTLA's Rick Chambers reports on Nov. 17, 2023.
Details: ktla.com/news/...
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[@charq52]

HOW can this be the city’s fault or the county’s fault???? I’ll build my house on a slippery slope and blame someone else if it goes wrong….

[@charq52]

@@nwhite3080 That makes sense. Many years ago something similar happened in Portland, OR. LOTS of rain one winter (not just plain-ol-rain) and some homes slid off a hill due to water saturation. But even then, like 40 years ago, I knew living on the side of a mountain could have devastating results. Sometimes I’ll visit someone with a beautiful home with spectacular views. I’ll enjoy it while I’m there, but I’d never live there. The home owner has some responsibility. On the other hand, that same time period….again, lots of rain, there was a development in Vancouver WA….on flat ground….and the ground started sliding. Sometimes it IS an act of God.

[@charq52]

@@imd1b4u No.

[@bambinaforever1402]

Lots of houses are built on slopes

[@bambinaforever1402]

@@charq52 i live in the south of France. Each santimeter of each slope is heavily built. Never heard of any rolling hills

[@richardfabacher3705]

@@nwhite3080 Does anybody know of builders' plans ever being rejected? More homes=more taxes. Cities would approve development inside the crater of an active volcano. If they require mitigation measures (retainer walls, drainage projects, etc.), that just means more short-term $$$$. But Nature is not subtle.

[@Rickets1911]

Looks like it’s called ‘rolling hills’ for a reason.

[@toddchinh8198]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@AleandroMusicOfficial]

OOOOOOO 😎

[@Cucumberflavoredmustard]

The root cause ain't rain. It's developers trying to squeeze one more lot onto the land, while failing to adequately compact and install proper drainage and terrace work to the soil.

[@katisugarbaker7349]

Perhaps the folks at Ktla should talk to you. The video only provided a very brief and vague explanation of the homeowners’ assertions. I’d like to hear more!

[@patmcbride9853]

Or simply that they built on sites destined to slide without huge investments in stabilization of existing soils.

[@richardfabacher3705]

Absolutely. My cousin who was an engineer for DWP in L.A. told me in the 1970s that LA keeps taking natural hillside slopes and terracing them. Then about every 15 years nature returns the terraces to natural slopes. But he said just wait, they'll build terraces again. Rinse. Repeat. 💸💸💸💸💸💸

[@7415_Gamer]

This comment makes sense.

[@jackbean7195]

LOL 😂, yep .... let's blame the rain. I guess the engineers didn't bother factoring in heavy rain when building on unstable ground on a HILL SIDE.

[@ClassyJohn]

no, you need to sue the people who approved for the home to be built on this land without proper inspection.

[@kimrasmussen7188]

what inspection is needed, besides taking a look at it? it is clearly unstable. and rain WILL come.

[@barackobama7761]

Maybe dont build houses on a hill named "Rolling Hills"?

[@kimrasmussen7188]

if the name isnt enough, then a simple look at the environment should be.

[@toddburgess6792]

It's in the name, "Rolling Hills". We have a local development named "Lipoma Firs", that was built on top of a garbage landfill. The carcinomas, melanomas, and various other "omas" will follow.

[@BOOBI123]

tacomas

[@lauriewoods8018]

They already have, the peninsula is a known cancer cluster area, due to the dioxin deposits off the coast that precipitated into the local reservoir. I remember when the government came door to door to warn people,of not drinking the water from the tap. That was early 80’s.

[@toddburgess6792]

@@lauriewoods8018 What's your peninsula? Or as the gal at work spelled it, "penisula".😉

[@patriotreno6279]

It's in the name. Rolling Hills.

[@aerisgainsborough2141]

rolling hills...?

[@katiejo1095]

Yes 😂😂😂😂

[@CruiseControlM3]

Remember the gardner that mentioned a cracked leaking pipe multiple times? Funny jow nobody is talking about that🙃

[@IfImCommentingStopMe]

Maybe because it was ruled out as a factor? Unless we're talking about a water main (which no one could overlook), that seems pretty insignificant

[@kaxmellerman7528]

Yes, a 3/4 inch irrigation line caused all this😂😂😂😂😂

[@LCx829]

I’d just sue and get the money to buy a house on flat land. You can argue it’s the rain blah blah but from the start those houses were on unstable ground.

[@juju-xx5xn]

Builders and the city/county keep ignoring the geology reports, and keep issuing building permits. Follow the $$$.

[@kaxmellerman7528]

Who you suing 😂

[@williamstone4334]

If the city approved the building permits, the city should be liable, in my opinion.

[@soniasias6226]

Then the city is liable for all earthquake damages, too. 😅

[@douglaspinsak1246]

Living in Rolling Hills is great…until the hills start rolling.

[@roachtoasties]

Why blame the rain? It rains. Plan for it. Anyway, residents blaming the city are just looking for whom to collect damages from. Landslides have happened since there has been land. It's been happening for billions of years.

[@total2199]

It looks like the city issued a construction permit without proper geotech investigation of the lot. Building official must get prepared for a massive payout to the homeowners 😢.

[@bluelava4282]

Docked my Sailboat in Ports ‘O Call for years, that peninsula is falling back to the Ocean 🌊’Count on it….. home owners knew the risks…….

[@mrsdraper171]

Give the people their money back. Man made hills. It was only a matter of time.

[@wattosdeal]

Living in CA, if the criminals don't get you, nature will.

[@frankmacleod2565]

you misspelled earth

[@Michelle-ce1qh]

Don't build a house on a damn cliff. Did none of these people ever learn about erosion in 4th grade?? IT'S GONNA HAPPEN!!

[@ronwade5646]

It's called Rolling Hills, Right?

[@Slide61]

Pretty simple to look at the precipitation record to see if trends deviate significantly from historic means. Of course, groundwater elevations are strongly correlated to precipitation. In addition, if there was historic instability in the geologic formation the houses are founded on then whomever approved the development in the first place probably missed it.

[@nomomomo5422]

Why do people assume that those residents in rich SoCal neighborhoods are smart.

[@111danish111]

hope they have good insurance

[@karlmckinnell2635]

I wonder if gravity played any part 🧐

[@smeeagain3102]

The cost of living the high life

[@aaronkarres3603]

0:04 dughhh dirt moveth downeth?

[@ej3358]

Indeed, a lawyer cannot sue God. That's why he denies the report.

[@fandomcheergurl1006]

Good point

[@yourguidetorights3909]

Gee, heavy rains? How come other homes in the hills weren't damaged. City is responsible.

[@franktorres633]

Who ever build the houses on an unstable hill side is responsible... not the taxpayers.

[@chrisd078]

It’s by Portuguese bend and that road and area is known to have land shifting very often.

[@toomignon]

That whole peninsula is prone to slides and other developments in that area have had to be abandoned.

[@tomwilliam5118]

How fitting Rolling Hills and there was a landslide

[@mellocello187]

How can the cause be “excessive rainfall”? I live in west LA, same rainfall, and my house did not go anywhere. How much $ was spent on this “report”?? Ridiculous!

[@joyofalltrades1239]

Wait what? This sound like the 3 little pig's. Who built these?

[@tqmeone]

So you build a home on the side of an unstable hill and you're shocked that gravity wins.

[@maestrovso]

Wow. We waited this long to find out they blamed it on the excessive rain. I will point to excessive incompetence and negligence on the part of government and excessive greed on the part of the developers.

[@OptimusOne]

Sure looks like Rolling Hills is trying to live up to its name.

[@tooge47]

poor site selection / preparation

[@Heavy_Distortion]

Blame it on the rain. Nothing to do with city inspectors, building codes, or construction.

[@davinxi5926]

Exactly

[@davinxi5926]

Easy way out. With no liability

[@DebbieOnTheSpot]

How cool would it be if we could trust news networks to be open and honest.

[@dacktube6957]

Sad to say it as I'm familiar with people who live on the Palos Verdes Peninsula but one thing that is not being mentioned here is that whole area is on the Palos Verdes Fault Zone which is capable of producing a magnitude 7.1 which isn't good. Being on top of bedrock doesn't matter if an earthquake occurs right under your house 🏡 so in addition to all of the landslides, a big jolt then rolling hills....😒

[@cathyshappyr]

Yes, that's some useful information.

[@coolandgood1010]

They got what they paid for 🙃

[@kaxmellerman7528]

@@coolandgood1010trumps golf course is just down the street lol 😂

[@erich84502b]

Looks like it won't stop rolling

[@chris98531]

They shouldn't have named the development "Rolling Hills". The hills just wanted to do their job.

[@Cassie00111]

Homes are being repaired? Delaying the inevitable?

[@dagabriel9416]

Poor soil is the cause. If it was fill, the developer and contractor are accountable

[@vjrei]

No even that, the soil is just dust. That land is not suitable for construction. The developer is at fault.

[@plicketyplunk]

They chose to live there. Didn't they use inspectors?

[@kimrasmussen7188]

no need for inspectors, just use your eyes and common sense. this is clearly unstable, i wouldnt even go camping there

[@Bryan-gt2nz]

It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God

[@Anythingispossibleyouknow]

Just moved away permanently 😢

[@skinnynhealthychannel]

California's ground is unstable, and not the best place to buy a house.

[@tiffanimckay3542]

STOP building on the hills

[@WorldReserveCurrency]

I guess renaming it Sliding Hills Estates isn't a popular idea..... even though reality says different.

[@MoonlightSonata214]

I would be interested to know the effect incidents such as this have on homeowners there being able to obtain or retain homeowner's insurance on these houses. I would think that insurers would refuse to write policies there, so what's the story with that?

[@mrd.808]

It ain't rolling hills without those rolling landslides 😂 and the foolish man builds his house upon the sand while the wise man builds his house upon the rock . File those lawsuits, especially when going up against the democratic state of Corruptofornia 😂

[@IfImCommentingStopMe]

That's dirt, not sand, that gave way

[@katiejo1095]

Gavin will fix it! He's gunna b the next prezzzident!

[@Mic_ALPHA213]

Amen, (overpaid crook judges) will make a “fair decision” in favor of the Demoncratic state of Fraudlifornia also known as the Deep state.

[@CamelliaThornton]

This is sad

[@WLA-General]

💀🤣☠️

[@bobinabuddy]

Well done to the lawyer who represents these homeowners

[@vm722]

Fema can help there. But not Lahaina. Wow

[@Sarastauffer-rm6lb]

Usually the homeowner needs to build a retaining wall to shore up land movement, protect their own home. Of course in this case, condos should not even have been built. Responsibility falls on homeowner, they acknowledged risk when they bought. One report said that if remediation measures are needed, such as hydraugers,the homeowner will be accessed ( charged)for the work, so it falls on the homeowners, no matter what.

[@ronpearson998]

Now, let's see, your house is on a hill and it rains alot, then it rains and your house goes down the hill. Imagine my surprise.

[@WilliamRohner]

Why is this news 4 months late? Censoring news!

[@tltnation878]

This is nothing new. Same cycle fire rain land slide build again like clockwork. Every 3 to 5 years.

[@theantichrist4267]

Given that most places in Southern California have vary Sandy soil , it would seem to me that any permits issued didn’t take into account soil quality . Because had the soil been 70+% dirt ,clay , silt , mix with less then 30 % sand then it could have weathered a heave rain or deep ground saturation without erosion. For that large of an area to giveaway and slid points to vary Sandy soil quality 35% or greater .

[@Digital_Ken]

I wonder why this area was named ROLLING HILLS

[@bandido7994]

Its called Rolling Hills for a reason.

[@CrowSpirit1977]

Didn't see that coming, like at all😲

[@sherrys.2259]

As a former REALTOR for 14 years, I can say that someone is at fault, and it is not rain. No way. Projects that have endured this type of damage usually see warning signs first, like small cracks, walkway movement, etc. From what is reported, it seems that none of that was experienced, and so I would place the blame squarely on the structural engineer who developed the project with the Developer, and, possibly, the Developer itself. Someone needs to go through all of the plans and ensure that the site was developed in accordance with the engineering plans. If everything checks out, then the blame could be placed on the County, to some degree, because they approved the project. The area is known for being geologically active. I would hope that supplemental funds could be issued for the people to find new homes, until it is sorted out, but what organization could do that? Since the people own the Air Space, and not the building, the HOA is responsible for compensating their air space, I would think. Maybe they have the reserves for that. Hope so...

[@katiejo1095]

Rolling hills of California. Why should the state pay for a hillside slide? Ridiculous.

[@stephenpowers5385]

If you are looking for help from local government or the state these people with money might have to get in line behind the homeless promised help for decades.

[@guangxidavidliu]

This attorney is going to sue the god of nature.

[@machintelligence]

If it was an act of God, why not?

[@kaxmellerman7528]

@@machintelligencelet me know what the judge says about this case😂

[@myrrhavm]

Interesting a hill or mountain will be fine for eons. Once man starts to live near or on it in track housing it collapses and slides away.

[@mmaranta785]

Did insurance cover this?

[@michaelconnor6282]

Gee, maybe those houses shouldn’t have been built there in the first place 🤷‍♂️

[@kyoung5600]

Rolling hill estates? The name implies that your home is going to roll down the hill which it eventually did til this day.

[@micastone6591]

its in the name!

[@cathyshappyr]

sorry for the owners, Hope they get help they need,if anything.😢

[@franktorres633]

Not from tax payers...

[@cathyshappyr]

@@franktorres633 how else 🇺🇸

[@tomwilliam5118]

My understanding condo HOA is responsible for everything out and around your house. Like a roof or water leaking into the basement because of poor drainage

[@usaearthling]

What goes up must come down. You build on a hill, you going down. You can't beat Mother Nature. First red flag, "Rolling Hills"

[@pvelvet1483]

I would SUE the developers, architects, & engineers for designing such unattractive homes that cost too much!!!

[@junc3354]

promise fulfilled.. Rolling Hills.. why even complain..

[@QuietStormX]

With global warming and changing weather expext more often with rain and winds. Living side of hills???

[@kenneth9874]

There's always been swings in temperatures and rain...jeez 😂

[@d.b.1176]

More like Sliding Hills…

[@gshepherd6141]

who buys a house on a place call "rolling hills"

[@shinola228]

But did the owners have insurance that covers landslides? And pays for a hotel? These are all fairly wealthy people who need a two car garage to park their BMWs so accomodations must be made quickly.

[@SundayCookingRemix]

Rolling hills. Perfect name

[@jerroldkazynski5480]

Forensic Geologists for hire.

[@boxpleasebox]

Similar to bluebird canyon laguna beach

[@djjamar]

What goes up, must come down.

[@pvt.2426]

Let's NOT overlook the obvious. They don't call it 'Rolling Hills ...' for nothing.

[@Sl20]

It is sad that today you are on top of the hills tomorrow be o the bottom of the hills !!!!!be normal and nothing will change !!!🔴🤫🫢

[@johnnynephrite6147]

Every home should come with a geologic report that specifies the type of land and soil composition. Developers do whatever the city/county lets them get away with. Saying "Unusual rain bla bla bla" does not excuse them from liability.

[@armageddonready4071]

“Unusually heavy rain” my booty. That’s a COP OUT excuse for the engineers and contractors.

[@timothya.olmeda7299]

They don’t call it Rolling Hills for nothing.

[@1080KaTa]

Estne Alogia populi?

[@PSALMfourtysix]

Looks like they named it accurately , Rolling Hills.

[@leendertplaat2303]

Perfect title OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ROLLING HILLS.

[@rickuyeda4818]

That's what homeowner insurance is for. Besides, those people are rich!!!

[@Dfgbuiiyyyybb]

lol the government will be the nations insurance company 😂😂😂😂😂. When private sector can’t make a buck off you it become the governments problem.

[@fredvalenz2405]

Inspectors and Developers are at fault you always inspect soil for compaction ect...

[@sky173]

Remember: If you have enough money to build on a risky hill, but don't get insurance to cover any potential damage, don't go crying to the news. You should've moved somewhere else. We don't feel sorry for you.

[@nursekathy4480]

So you build your home in Rolling Hills and now you want the government’s help. Got it. But paying off student loan debt from predatory lenders is wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@merriemisfit8406]

I understood that the student loan forgiveness plan was only intended to cover FEDERAL student loans -- loans obtained from private sources were not included. That would make the U.S. Government the predatory lender. Maybe if the U.S. Government hadn't commandeered the student loan business, the schools wouldn't have skyrocketed the costs of tuition and accoutrements to take advantage of all that available taxpayer dough.

[@derekschneider8922]

Rolling hills, what does the name say? Rolling hills!

[@suzyque1444]

It's a human factor alright... Build on a cliff and blame gravity for your house falling down... We live in a country founded by geniuses, inherited by idiots...

[@edmorse3529]

It's called Mother nature!!!!