Residents on crumbling Pacifica, California, cliff vow to stay

Cliffs just south of San Francisco offer apartment dwellers a million-dollar view for an affordable price.

But part of the bluff in the coastal community of Pacifica is crumbling, leaving several complexes teetering on the edge -- and threatening the homes where about 30 people live.

And despite city officials on Monday tagging about 20 units uninhabitable, some residents told NBC News that they're not budging.

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Michelle Mackay is staying in her apartment in violation of the government orders.

"I love it here, and I'm not willing to leave," said Mackay, adding, "To say 'Oh, we have to go out' -- why? If it falls, it's not going to fall in 10 seconds. We'll have plenty of time to get out of the front door."

SEE MORE: Pacifica Cliff Erosion Forces Out Residents on Precipice

Longtime resident Jeff Bowman said he feels safe, too.

"I mean things happen for a reason," Bowman said. "I just think that they're making more out of that then they need to be."

But the danger is real. Since 2003, the sandstone cliffs of Pacifica have begun shearing off in storms. Other apartment buildings along Esplanade Avenue had to be evacuated six years ago, according to NBC Bay Area.

Then, as powerful storms from El Niño pummeled the coastline, officials last week declared a state of emergency. Drone video captured chunks of the cliffside eroding into the water hundreds of feet below -- sparking fears of a catastrophic collapse.

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Bart Willoughby, an independent contractor hired by the Esplanade property owner to help plan for erosion, watched as some residents packed up their belongings for good. He lamented the inevitable loss of the homes.

"Where else can you live along the coast for like $1,500 a month?" he asked. "This is like a poor man's Malibu."

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