Photo Essay: California Mud Slide

BBC On-Line ^

[yankeedame]

California is braced for a massive cleanup after heavy rains
triggered mudslides that killed at least nine and destroyed dozens of homes.

At least 12 major roads, including Malibu Canyon Road,
had to be closed - explosives will be used to remove rocks and debris.

Several luxury homes in Los Angeles are on the brink
of collapse after the ground started slipping away.

At least 40 damaged homes have been evacuated.

Firefighters have been helping residents leave their homes.

This flat was filled by mud to the ceiling. Three women
trapped inside were later rescued.

The newly built, $2.5m white house began to slide
down a hill after torrential rains hit California in January.

[markman46]

it's not like the whole of SOCAL is sliding down a hill, S*** happens when it rains as much as it has,and people build on the hill sides.LA will break a new record some time in the next month I'd say the record rainfall is 38" set in 1888-89, and right now it's at 34".

[orionblamblam]

I recall a lot of Californians laughing at us dumb midwesterners in the early '90's for building houses too near the Mississippi. When the river flooded to 500 or 1000 years levels, homes were lost. But these knuckleheads built mansions on mud hills.

Frikken morons...

[ken5050]

I have a question..hopefully someone with knowledge of insurance might be able to respond.. Homeowner's insurance rates reflect the replacement cost of the structure..In the subburbs of NYC where I live..my house might be worth $1 million, but the lot is about half the value...so my insurance appraisal, and premium, is based upon about $500K...it's generally accepted that the land ain't going anywheres. However, in California, you have the opposite..these multimilion $$ homes, being built upon million$$ lots..and the land can, and does, disappear.. so, are homeowners poliicies written to reflect this, and cost more accordingly..?

[rellimpank]

--and parts of it have been been sliding for years.

When I was a kid 55 years ago, one of the latest accessories in the cattle barn was a radio. Every spring and fall we were informed that California was either having mudslides or brushfires which were wiping out $20,000 homes--a figure almost beyond comprehension--

--some people never learn--

[newfrpr04]

Nope. They only insure the structure. Homeowner policies do not cover landslide or flood. You can purchase Flood. landslides are not covered. Many won't write homes on hillsides or slopes,brush... but they keep rebuilding with no regard for potential. State Ca Fair Plan will write basic insurance fire insurance for these homes. None cover the land value. Lenders try to force you to cover the amt of loan which includes land.

[ken5050]

Thanks..I thi nk I understand..but flood insurance covers damage to the structure cuased by flooding, NOT to the land, right? And how can a lender "force" you to get coverage for the full value, if the insurance companies won't write the coverage?.. Let's take an extreme example..to try and understand the point.. YOu own an undeveloped 10 acre parcel..it's buildable..it's a high cliff overlooking the ocean..the perfect homesite..the plot is worth, let's say.$10 million..on it, for whatever reason, you're a wealthy quirky person..you only put a $50,000 mobile home..If you've put down a $100k payment, and gotten a $900 k mortage.., in this case the entire cliff could disappear.

[Polyxene]

Gee, do you think they will cancel the Academy Awards??
Do you think all of the Hollywierdos will give up their fancy duds, limos and parties and donate the money to these poor unfortunate people who have lost their homes? Isn't that what they wanted President Bush to do? Cancel the inauguration? NAH -- never happen!

[newfrpr04]

Correct - flood only covers the structure NOT the land. Does not cover landslide,destabilization or movement of land Ins co will only insure the replacement cost not market value. If lenders insure they rip you off and require you insure the amount of the loan. When you can't get insurance due to claims, or area- lenders place their own insurance (sometimes same carriers that won't write through standard markets !)and "force insurance" based on the amount of the loan.
You CAN get Landslide Insurance- only one company writing in California Very expensive $ 400-600 per$100,000 of coverage. You would think if you spend so much money on the property you would spend the money on insurance. Still won't cover the land just the structure with all sorts of conditions. Insurance seems to have more exclusions versus coverage.

[ken5050]

True..but if you didn't have the exclusions, the premiums would be prohibitive..

[jaj_dad]

Insurance seems to have more exclusions versus coverage.

I once heard that every insurance company only has two departments - Payment Acceptance and Claim Rejection :-)

[newfrpr04]

Insurance companies figure if they do have a loss it will be a total loss might as well collect high premiums while they can, then you also have such a high deductible. Regular premiums are pretty high as it is.

With California's earthquakes, floods, landslides and brush fires, insurance companies make a fortune. Premiums for earthquake,flood are pretty high and most people do go bare, then people building in these areas expect gov to bale them out.