Relentless rain threatens mudslides

By Brigid Gaffikin, Bay City News Service

April 4, 2006

Property owners in northern San Mateo County are on edge today as mudslides threaten homes and rains show little sign of holding up.

In the Broadmoor Village neighborhood of Daly City, two recently constructed homes in the 600 block of Larchmont Drive "have compromised foundations," according to John Quinlan, director of the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services.

Quinlan said he didn't believe the homes were occupied or even sold yet. He said he was not aware of any evacuations in that area because of the mudslide, which was first reported to his agency around 9 p.m. Monday.

Elsewhere in the county, a home in the 1100 block of Parrott Drive in San Mateo was orange-tagged Monday - meaning residents can go into the home but can't live there - after a slide was reported Friday.

Quinlan said when the county sees this much rain and the ground becomes saturated it's not unusual to see mudslides.

"We're aware of certain areas where there's always issues," he said.

"We're watching the whole county," he added.

"It's bad right now," Quinlan said. "If we get high winds," things could become worse, because with the soil so saturated, trees may come down and bring power lines with them, he said.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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