California Landslide

Merika · 06-02-2005, 08:05 AM

Calif. Landslide Sends 18 Homes Crashing

By BEN FOX, Associated Press Writer
June 1, 2005, 3:55PM EDT US

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. - A landslide sent 18 multimillion-dollar houses crashing down a hill in Southern California early Wednesday as homeowners alarmed by the sound of walls and pipes coming apart ran for their lives in their nightclothes. At least four people suffered minor injuries.

About 1,000 people in 500 other homes in the Blue Bird Canyon area were evacuated as a precaution.

In addition to the 15 to 18 houses destroyed, several homes were damaged and a street was wrecked when the earth gave way around daybreak in the Orange County community about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

"People were running down the hill like a bomb had gone off. I mean literally, they had their bed clothes on," said Robert Pompeo, 56, a retiree whose home is about 75 yards from the ridge where the most homes were lost.

Officials said they had no idea what caused the disaster. The landslide followed the second-rainiest season on record in Southern California, but Laguna Beach has been dry since a trace of rainfall nearly a month ago.

Residents began reporting problems around 5 a.m. and the hillside gave way between 6 and 7 a.m.

"The pipes started making funny noises and the toilet sounded like it was about to explode," said Carrie Joyce, one of those who fled. "I could see one house, huge, we call it `the mausoleum,' 5,000 square feet or more. It had buckled, the retaining wall in the front of it was cracked. It just looked like the whole house was going."
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I wonder if they had insurance to cover this? On the direct beach here...it's limited how much coverage you can really get. Then again...if you can afford a multimillion dollar house....maybe all is well.

Star · 06-02-2005, 03:11 PM

I wonder if they are covered for natural disasters. I know that now we're not covered anymore for terrorist attacks (I was floored when I got my content insurance and they mentioned that to me) but i'm really not sure about natural disasters. Good question to ask my insurance broker the next time i talk to her.

I feel so bad for all those people who lost their homes. I can't even begin to imagine how devestating that would be. But, like you said, they're multi-million dollar homes so I doubt that any of them are completely homeless.

Merika · 06-02-2005, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star

I wonder if they are covered for natural disasters. I know that now we're not covered anymore for terrorist attacks (I was floored when I got my content insurance and they mentioned that to me)

8O I guess that would be because it falls under an Act of War instead of an Act of God....maybe I better check my own! Those SOB's will pass all sorts of laws right under our noses. I know those folks in NYC were covered who lived within proximity...but that may all be different now.

Star · 06-03-2005, 07:27 AM

I was told that since the sept 11 happened, they've put that in the policies that terrorist attacks aren't covered. I don't know if all insurance companies are this way though but i think they might be.

things like that should be covered as far as i'm concerned. I think it's a rediculous policy.

Merika · 06-04-2005, 04:25 PM

Well...in an Act of War...I could understand not being able to financially cover some nuclear disaster....but that would hardly be considered a terrorist attack. I can't imagine why an insurance company couldn't cover that. I agree....that's just retarded.

My home owners insurance doesn't cover floods or Arabs......like what else would happen?????? I might as well not have coverage. LOL!