On January 30, 2024, Moon Township advised two families to evacuate their homes due to a worsening landslide near their properties. Following soil testing, the township found it unsafe for the families to continue residing in the area for the time being.

“Today, they determined that these two properties should leave just as a cautionary thing. They are not being evacuated, but we just feel it’s safer to go because the ground is still moving,” Township Supervisor Jim Vitale said.

Moon Township is experiencing two landslides in their area. The landslides have greatly impacted Purdy Road and Beaver Grade Road, with both roads being closed completely. It also affects residents’ homes, losing 10-15 feet from their backyards.

Vitale stated that the repairs of the damages will fall on the homeowners. Insurance companies have already informed the residents that they do not cover the damages caused by the landslide in their plans. However, two state representatives want to change that.

For the last several years, Pennsylvania Representatives Valerie Gaydos and Emily Kinkead have been working on a bill to give homeowners across Pennsylvania a solution.

“We saw that this is an incredible need that with weather patterns changing, with the soils we have here in Western Pennsylvania, that there are landslides, and it’s actually very devastating on these people’s homes,” said Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny). Rep. Kinkhead (D-Allegheny) added, “Landslides by and large are not caused by homeowners. It is literally your backyard falling off.”

The bill would be an expansion of a current program for coal and clay mine subsidence. It would give homeowners insurance coverage for landslides and sinkholes at a fair price.

“It wouldn’t necessarily cover the entire cost of a landslide, but the goal is to help people start over if their house is condemned,” Rep. Kinkead said.

The township is holding a meeting on January 31st, 2024, to ask residents questions about the situation.