Mudslides Force Azusa Homeowner To Move Out

AZUSA (CBSLA.com) — For Azusa homeowner Ed Heinlein, mudslides have become a source of nearly constant concern to the point that Heinlein has packed his bags and is moving out.

On Monday morning, Heinlein captured cellphone footage of a torrent of muddy water flowing down a neighboring hillside and through his retaining way, filling his and his neighbor's yards with what he estimates to be thousands of tons of mud.

"I was shocked," he said. "It was just coming down."

It was the fourth major landslide to hit Heinlein's property since the Colby Fire scorched the hillside overlooking his home in January of last year.

For Heinlein, the mud is just the start of his worries.

"I've had a couple major heart attacks here because of the mountain ... [from] the pressure and the stress," he said.

Heinlein has spent about $100,000 on retaining walls and drainage. He even installed security cameras to give him advance notice when a mudslide was starting.

But he's still concerned about mudslides at night that could go undetected by his cameras.

Fearing for his safety amid predictions for a strong El Niño that could dump heavy rain, Heinlein has packed his belongings and is moving out of his home.

"This is just the prelude of what I believe is going to happen," he said.