Some neighborhoods are being affected more than others, particularly those that are battling with coastline erosion, such as one community in Daly City, as more rain is predicted.
For many years, Westline Drive has been the subject of dispute.
In the 1990s, members of the bands The Mummies and The Phantom Surfers lived at 30 Westline Drive, which is commemorated with a sign at the end of the street.
Due to the possibility of a landslide, it was one of over 20 houses that were red-tagged and ultimately removed in 2000.
The street is on the San Andreas Fault, according to Ross Stein, co-founder of the seismic risk firm Temblor.
“What a major fault line like the San Andreas does is crush all the rocks within several hundred meters of the fault,” stated Stein. “Because it’s displaced within earthquakes, let’s say 10 to 15 feet, over and over again.”
According to Stein, his company has monitored a lot of seismic activity during the past month. He thinks the question is not whether the place will become uninhabitable, but rather when.
“It’s a surefire way to end badly. Now, if we get another big earthquake like 1906, it might happen all at once, or it might happen very slowly and spread out,” Stein added.
Susan Hathaway lives a few yards away from the houses that were destroyed. Having spent almost 40 years in the area, she knew the residents of the now-gone houses.
“Lots of older people who have been living here for years and years didn’t want to move no matter what they told them about the hill,” Hathaway added. “If the hill was going they wanted to go with it.”
She claims that she is not worried about more erosion brought on by the recent rain events. The strong gusts in the neighborhood during storms like this are her biggest worry, but she’s not sure if she’ll leave her house because of them.
“Where would I go? Regarding perhaps leaving her house, Hathaway stated, “Ya know, I think about it.” “I’m thinking about looking into senior housing and things like that but I’m not really sure what I’m going to do.”
However, Stein argues she will eventually have to go. He thinks that regulated withdrawal is the only practical choice for residents of Westline Drive.
“You can’t staple your house to that kind of ground, because that ground is something you can kind of gouge out with your finger nails,” Stein explained.
There are currently no plans by the Daly City to demolish any more houses in the area.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.