Rancho Palos Verdes Formally Awarded Over $54 Million in FEMA Grants to Buy Out 27 Landslide-Area Homes
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes announced on October 14 that it has been formally awarded over $54 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund two rounds of its Voluntary Property Buyout Program in the Greater Portuguese Bend landslide area. The city said the awards follow a federal regulatory review period and allow it to begin acquiring 27 pre-selected properties severely impacted by ongoing land movement. Homes were prioritized for program participation based on safety risk factors, including red- or yellow-tag status, loss of utility service, and proximity to active land movement.
According to the city, FEMA and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) initially selected the city for $42 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding in October 2024 for Round 1, covering 22 homes, as landslide activity accelerated. In February 2026, the city was selected for an additional $10.16 million in Round 2 waitlist funding, covering another five homes. The city said it has now been formally awarded over $54 million for Rounds 1 and 2 combined.
Under the program guidelines published by the city, purchase prices are based on pre-disaster fair market value, appraised as of December 1, 2022. FEMA pays 75% of eligible costs, and the remaining 25% is contributed by the seller through a reduction in the purchase payment. After acquisition, structures will be demolished and the land will be permanently deed-restricted as open space.
The city said that because federal grants operate on a reimbursement basis, buyouts will be executed in groups of a few homes at a time, expected to start in the coming months, and that acquiring and demolishing improvements for all 27 properties will likely take a few years. Waitlisted applicants will retain their priority rank, and if a selected homeowner withdraws, the next property will advance based on risk priority. The city has also submitted a $19 million Round 3 HMGP application, which could fund acquisitions for approximately eight more homes if approved; Round 3 remains waitlisted at this time. The city received 85 applications when the program was announced in fall 2024. Selected Round 1 and Round 2 owners will be contacted directly by the city's program consultant, Black & Veatch.
"Our community has faced historic challenges over the past three years, with many of our neighbors showing incredible resilience," Mayor Paul Seo said in the city's release. "The Voluntary Property Buyout Program allows us to offer our most vulnerable residents a compassionate path to relocate. We extend our thanks and gratitude to FEMA and Cal OES for their support and collaboration during this process." City Manager Ara Mihranian said: "The award of these grant funds is a significant milestone for Rancho Palos Verdes and its pursuit to secure much-needed assistance for residents whose lives and the homes they know have been forever changed by landslide acceleration. In collaboration with our federal and state partners, the City is now able to offer the most impacted residents some notable relief and hope. We will continue working to expand this program to all those patiently seeking buyouts."
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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