PORTLAND, Ore. - City work crews installed sprawling tarpaulins over the site of a landslide in Southwest Portland over the weekend before a wet weather system moved into the state, bringing substantial rainfall.

Officials fear more rain could exacerbate the situation. Crews drilled into the street in front of the lot where a house slid away two weeks ago to check the stability of the ground.

A geologist told KATU that the slide could have started moving again had the tarps not been put in place.

Paul Scarlett with the City of Portland said the tarps were put down to help ensure the stability of the area. Several homes near the site of the Oct. 8 slide remain at risk if the earth begins to move again.

Several homes were damaged when the ground gave way between Southwest Burlingame Place and Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard. The house that slid down the hill was completely destroyed.

Several other homes suffered severe damage and some homes near the slide were determined to be uninhabitable. Homeowners are working with insurance companies to see if they will be able to rebuild or make repairs.

Portland city officials said that since the slide happened on private property, they are not responsible for the destruction.

However, they did say the tarps and soil studies are preventive measures against a future slide as Oregon enters into its rainy season.