To the editor: I dwell within the Portuguese Bend landslide space of Rancho Palos Verdes and have for a very long time. I need to object to all the favored “cannot fight Mother Nature” takes on our state of affairs.
People have certainly beat down Mom Nature. We’ve unfold radiation throughout the globe. We’ve polluted the environment. We even constructed a dam so huge that it barely modified the planet’s rotation. And sure, now we have tailored to landslides.
Our residence is ok now. It was wonderful in 1970, and it is going to be wonderful as a result of it was designed for this landslide. It has an adaptive basis. Keep in mind, a ship is secure and never on agency floor, and an airplane that weighs greater than my residence may be moved on three wheels safely with passengers on board.
Houses right here can and have been reclaimed after being red-tagged. We’ve defied Mom Nature earlier than, however we hardly get media protection for that.
You probably have the grit, this is a wonderful, manageable place to dwell with different can-do folks. We’ve proved this for 60-plus years.
Madeleine A, McJones, Rancho Palos Verdes
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To the editor: Sadly, any California geology pupil remembers the textbook chapter concerning the Portuguese Bend landslide in Palos Verdes.
Sedimentary layers of swelling clays beneath the world slope downward towards the ocean. When wetter-than-normal winter rains soak into these layers, they develop into “slick as snot,” and the overlying strata merely slide towards the Pacific Ocean below their very own weight.
Each affected home-owner doubtless knew the hazards after they purchased their properties. Now, lower off from utilities whereas nature destroys their neighborhood, they name upon authorities for not possible help. Their plight is just not in contrast to that of residents who transfer to identified fire-prone areas, solely to be burned out.
Whether or not topic to wildfire, flood or landslide danger, some properties ought to have by no means been constructed and shouldn’t be rebuilt.
David W. Kay, Playa Vista
