Landslide disrupts life in Santa Cruz Mountains

Thursday, March 28, 2024

In the tranquil but rugged terrain of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a natural disaster has significantly altered the daily lives of some community members. A landslide has rendered a section of Mountain Charles Road in Los Gatos unusable for vehicle traffic, directly affecting the accessibility of at least 80 homes in the area. This calamity has forced residents to adapt to new, more time-consuming routines to navigate around the damaged infrastructure.

Eric Hansen, one of the residents impacted by the road’s closure, shared how the landslide has added a considerable amount of time to his daily commute. By parking his car on one side of the affected area and using his bike to traverse the disrupted passage, Hansen has found a workaround, albeit not without its challenges. This adjustment, however, underscores the resilience and adaptability of the community members in the face of adversity.

Ali Hyde, another resident of the area, expressed her concern particularly for those living in five houses that have lost direct road access due to the landslide. Attending a public meeting held to discuss the situation, Hyde and others received updates from county officials regarding the road’s condition and the plans for its repair. The community’s response to the officials’ engagement and apparent commitment to addressing the issue was one of cautious optimism.

However, the county officials highlighted a significant hurdle in the path to recovery: a strained financial situation exacerbated by unreimbursed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) repair costs stemming from seven declared disasters since 2017. Despite these challenges, they are formulating a plan to restore access, albeit with a projected timeline extending from one to three years. This extended period of disruption has understandably led to frustration among residents, with Hyde articulating the sentiment that three years of inconvenience is an unacceptable burden for any family to bear.

The ongoing situation in the Santa Cruz Mountains serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities that natural disasters pose to communities, challenging their resilience and necessitating a coordinated response to rebuild and recover.

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