A powerful California storm has battered waterfront properties, with enormous waves generated by Tropical Storm Rachel ripping away nearly 30 feet of a Long Beach boardwalk.
Blistering winds and towering surf tore into the century-old structure, raising fears that several expensive homes on the city’s Peninsula could collapse into the ocean.
By Saturday evening, officials had cordoned off the boardwalk with “No Trespassing” signs. Mayor Rex Richardson said eight homes had been red-tagged, meaning they were considered unsafe to enter.
A ninth property received a yellow tag. Residents were allowed to enter briefly to collect belongings but could not remain inside.
The designations may not be permanent. Once repairs are completed and approved by inspectors, a red tag can be changed to yellow. Inspections are scheduled to continue twice a day.
Authorities are still evaluating the danger and deciding whether evacuations may be required as another wave of severe weather approaches.
Dramatic footage recorded Friday night showed huge swells slamming into a home in the 6500 block of Seaside Walk. Waves reached the second-story windows while pieces of the building and shattered boardwalk sections washed out to sea.
Additional images showed floodwater spreading across nearby side streets and patios before pouring into homes and damaging surrounding properties.
Towering waves and fierce winds ripped apart Long Beach’s century-old boardwalk, leaving waterfront homes at risk of collapsing into the sea
Officials blocked access to the boardwalk Saturday evening with “No Trespassing” signs after eight homes on the city’s Peninsula were declared unsafe
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning for Los Angeles County beaches through 3 p.m. Sunday, forecasting waves between four and seven feet
In more recent video, a structure could be seen lifting off the ground as two people tried to pull it back down. One of them was eventually lifted from the floor, the California Post reported.
“It is not normal that we see this type of activity,” Mayor Richardson said Saturday.
“Just in this season, this marks the third hurricane in just six weeks. We saw Hurricane Marie over Labor Day, which was followed soon by Hurricane Polo, and now Rachel is bringing with it more high tides, more surf, erosion that continues to cause damage to properties and damage along our coastline.”
“This is easily the most damage I have seen over the past couple of weeks,” said KTLA’s Rich Prickett, whose team documented the destruction from a helicopter.
“Now the entire boardwalk is just starting to shred away, and now some of these homes are being impacted even more severely,” he said.
“As you’re seeing this house right here that’s starting to crumble as that erosion just continues underneath the house.”
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The National Weather Service issued the coastal flood warning Friday afternoon for Los Angeles County beaches, keeping it in effect until 3 p.m. Sunday. Forecasters predicted waves as high as seven feet.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see how much has been affected with the surf and the high tides and everything. I mean, people are losing their houses,” Long Beach neighbor Stacey Sniezak told ABC 7.
Morning high tides of more than seven feet are expected, while strong winds, rain and rising ocean levels could worsen conditions on Sunday
Rain is expected to spread on Saturday night into Sunday morning, with showers possibly continuing through Tuesday night
Local officials distributed 7,600 sandbags in hopes of helping residents protect their properties
Chilling footage on Friday night showed towering swells crashing against a home in the 6500 block of Seaside Walk, reaching its second-story windows as sections of the building and broken pieces of boardwalk drifted into the ocean
Sniezak said the damage to her home, where she has lived for 45 years, has left her devastated.
‘It’s just impossible to fix at this point, and I don’t know how they’re going to do that,’ she added.
Richardson announced all vehicle access to the Peninsula had been closed off for residents only, and added: ‘We’re encouraging everyone else to avoid the Peninsula all weekend, so that our city crews can have access and best perform this critical work.’
The Weather Service warned that coastal flooding could lead to damaged beach roads and structures, as well as significant beach erosion.
High tides over seven feet are expected in the mornings, as forecasters expect conditions may deteriorate on Sunday from strong winds, rain and elevated ocean water levels.
The Weather Service urged residents and visitors to stay off beaches, coastal walkways and vulnerable roads and structures. Motorists were warned not to drive around barricades or through floodwaters.
Rain is expected to spread on Saturday night into Sunday morning, with showers possibly continuing through Tuesday night.
Local officials distributed 7,600 sandbags in hopes of helping residents protect their properties.
‘We’re looking at an unprecedented high tide, potentially 7.8 to 8 feet, which is significant for this area,’ Long Beach Fire Department Assistant Chief Jake Heflin said.
‘We’re not just talking about the peninsula, we’re not talking just about Naples, we’re talking about the potential for a citywide impact.’