Long Beach officials are racing to reinforce the city’s exposed shoreline before the storm’s most severe conditions arrive Sunday morning. Eight structures have been marked with red tags as unsafe, while another has received a yellow tag, city officials said.
The worst damage has been reported along the Alamitos Peninsula, where heavy surf has slammed into homes, damaged the boardwalk and erased sand berms installed after earlier flooding.
Crews have brought in industrial-strength sandbags to shore up a bulkhead that is beginning to fail as officials prepare for the possibility of further destruction.
“These kinds of impacts are not normal. They’re unprecedented for our community,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said. He added that hundreds of city employees and volunteers have been working around the clock to limit the damage as ongoing threats push dangerously close to the shoreline.
The National Weather Service said Saturday that coastal flooding would remain a threat through Sunday, with the greatest concern coming during the morning high tide, when water levels could approach 8 feet.
“Damaging sea-water coastal flooding is likely through Sunday, especially near the Sunday morning high tide where anticipated tide levels are expected to be around 8 feet,” the agency said.
Forecasters said south-facing beaches most vulnerable to storm surge face the highest risk of damaging flooding Sunday morning, specifically naming Long Beach and Malibu as areas of concern.
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The latest warning comes after renewed flooding hit Long Beach and Newport Beach, prompting emergency crews across Southern California to prepare for another round of dangerous waves and coastal erosion.
“It is not normal that we see this type of activity,” Richardson said. He noted that the current season has brought three hurricanes in six weeks, beginning with Hurricane Marie around Labor Day, followed by Hurricane Polo and now Rachel, which has brought higher tides, larger surf and continued erosion along the coast.
An evacuation order is in effect for the 6400 and 6500 blocks of Seaside Walk, where waves have already damaged homes. Richardson said officials will keep monitoring conditions and determine whether the evacuation area must be expanded.
The city has provided residents with 7,600 sandbags ahead of Rachel. Combined with supplies distributed during two earlier storms, the total handed out in recent weeks is now about 15,000.
Vehicle access to the Peninsula has also been limited to residents, allowing emergency personnel and city crews to move more freely through the area.
“We’ve closed off vehicular access to the Peninsula for residents only,” Richardson said, urging everyone else to avoid the area throughout the weekend so crews can carry out critical shoreline protection work.
A coastal flood warning remains in effect for Los Angeles County beaches through 3 p.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service has also issued a high surf advisory, warning of 4- to 7-foot waves, powerful rip currents and substantial beach erosion.
Rain is expected to move into Los Angeles and Orange counties Saturday night and continue into Sunday, with showers possibly lasting through Tuesday. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph may develop in foothill and mountain areas.
Officials are advising residents and visitors to stay away from beaches, coastal paths and flood-prone roads. Drivers should never go around barricades or attempt to cross floodwaters when the depth is unknown.