PHOTOS of the Laguna Beach, CA Landslide 06/01/05

[distressedsister]

Since I only vacation in Red States now, I find myself driving down the CA coast with friends this week. With limited time, we pushed ourselves to cover 250 miles yesterday, driving until midnight to get safely past LA and on toward San Diego, deciding to stop in Laguna Beach last night.

We were awakened by helicopters at about 8AM and came to find out that a major landslide had taken place in the hills above us (in a neighborhood known as Bluebird Canyon). On the order of 20 homes were totally destroyed. According to TV news, no one was seriously hurt. However, these were large homes with panoramic ocean views and they (along with at least one SUV) slid down the hill, breaking apart in some cases, along the way. Here are shots from the scene taken at about noon today (PDT).

[bridgit]

1. sure gave way all right...

those canyons are notoriously unstable, i'm surprised they are able to get permits the way most of the lots are laid out what a shame.

[Spinzonner]

2. Another decade, another Laguna Beach disaster

these people need a clue.

Don't live here.

[annabanana]

3. boy howdy..

some mess!

[JetJaguar]

4. There goes the neighborhood.

nt

[izzie]

5. Thanks for the pictures. We do love to live on the edge

I will give odds that they will be building homes in the same place very soon. Heck if you do not believe me just look at how they have built up and down the East coat for 100's of years and the nice part is the ins. you pay on your home lets these people keep doing it. Alaska let people build right on the edge of the place that fell into the sound because it was not safe. Now face it who would not build in these great spots if ins. will cover the cost of your loss and it only cost you a few $1000 a year and some one else pick up the rest? Strange way to think when these same people would not give up $100 a year for a one payer health care system in this country.

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Great Shots Sis!!!

You seem to be in the right place at the right time a lot these days!

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Why do these people insist on

living on hills like this? I can't imagine buying a house that cannot be insured against this kind of disaster.

[DistressedAmerican]

8. I Bet THIS House's Insurance Just Went WAY UP!

Of they can even get insurnace...

[KharmaTrain]

9. Beachfront Property Anyone???

First...Great Pics! I know the area...we're planning to be "down there" sometime in August. Seeing it first-hand had to be scary...the scope that a camera just can't capture.

My brother lives in the hills near San Diego and when he bought the agent said, "if you're gonna live up here, you better have the money to be able to rebuild this house from scratch...even with insurance." He was atop a similar mesa (great view of the ocean), paid a fortune for the place and even more in insurance over the years and never slept soundly the whole time. Anytime it rained heavy, the stomache turned. Any earthquake activity and he'd be out sampling the ground soil in the small backyard that falls off quickly. They even worried when there was sewer or road work in the area since that would change the flooding patterns. He now lives in a valley...doesn't have the great view anymore, but it's just as nice.

On my last visit, I happened on a local station in Beverly Hills that gave emergency information for people living in the Hills regarding the rainy season. They advised to make sure you had a day's supply of food, extra clothing and other warnings that made my wife say to me "No way are we going up to Mullholland Drive with me in the car".

Cheers

[sinkingfeeling]

10. CBS said last night that most of these homes are un-insured. Guess

it must be nice to be so rich that you don't care if everything you own slides down a hill. I really have very little sympathy.