Heavy Rains Cause Backyard Landslide

DALLAS - Someone from the city of Dallas got a first hand look Thursday at the major damage caused by a mudslide at a southwest Dallas home.

A representative from the city's public works department was out at the home on High Brush Drive surveying the damage.

Terry and Patricia Palmer said they've lived there for 16 years. Mr. Palmer said the back yard retaining wall was repaired two years ago, but all the recent rain was more than it could handle.

A week ago they began noticing their backyard sliding into the property below .

“One step off our little step right here and you were into our yard. Now its maybe, it’s close to 20 feet,” said Mrs. Palmer. “You can see the pylons are in concrete and the mud caught the retaining wall and just slid it.”

The Palmers hired their own engineer who told them their house should be okay, but they are still nervous about the next big storm.

Also, their insurance company said it doesn’t cover mudslides. They are hoping the city of Dallas can help.

Mr. Palmer said he doesn’t know what he’s going to do to fix his backyard, but he said now he knows what people living hillside in California feel like.