I'm aware of the absence of basements.

I was raised in a house with a basement, and, before they bought their house (they only owned one home), my parents lived in a basement apartment. In the summer, I use my basement more than in the winter, but, until I improve the lighting, upstairs gets preference.

I've lived in only one house (a rental) without a basement and it was a converted carriage house associated with a much larger home.

If houses in CA had been built with full basements, including, of course, the appropriate underpinnings, e.g. caissons, etc, they'd not slide into the sea whenever there's a major rainstorm.

RE