Tropical Storm Rachel has battered California’s coastline, tearing apart sections of a century-old boardwalk in Long Beach and leaving several waterfront homes at risk of collapsing into the ocean.
Powerful winds, towering waves and rising tides have ripped away nearly 30 feet of the boardwalk on the city’s Peninsula, with footage showing parts of buildings breaking apart as seawater surged against the shoreline.
Eight Long Beach Homes Red-Tagged as Unsafe
Authorities cordoned off the damaged boardwalk on Saturday evening, placing “No Trespassing” signs around the affected area as officials assessed the condition of nearby properties.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson confirmed that eight homes on the Peninsula had been red-tagged, meaning they were considered unsafe to enter.
A ninth property received a yellow tag, allowing occupants to retrieve their belongings but prohibiting them from remaining in the home.
The restrictions are not necessarily permanent.
Properties marked with red tags may receive yellow tags once repairs have been completed and inspectors determine that access can be permitted.
Richardson said inspections would continue twice daily as officials monitored the condition of the affected homes and assessed whether evacuation orders would be required.
Towering Waves Smash Into Waterfront Properties
Footage recorded on Friday night captured powerful swells crashing against a house in the 6500 block of Seaside Walk, with waves reaching its second-storey windows.
Sections of the building and broken pieces of the boardwalk were seen drifting into the ocean as erosion continued beneath the waterfront properties.
Other images showed floodwater spreading across nearby side streets and patios before entering homes and damaging surrounding structures.
Additional video reported by the California Post showed a structure being lifted from the ground as two people attempted to pull it back down. One of them was subsequently lifted off the floor.
Mayor Richardson described the conditions as unusual, saying the city had experienced three hurricanes within six weeks, beginning with Hurricane Marie around Labor Day, followed by Hurricane Polo and now Rachel.
He said the storms had brought repeated periods of high tides, heavy surf and coastal erosion, causing further damage along the shoreline.
Reporter Describes Extent of Coastal Destruction
Rich Prickett of KTLA, whose crew filmed the destruction from a helicopter, said the latest damage was among the worst he had witnessed in recent weeks.
He described sections of the boardwalk being torn apart as waves continued to reach homes along the coast.
Prickett also pointed to a house where erosion beneath the structure was causing parts of the building to crumble.
The damage has left residents distressed, particularly those whose homes have stood along the waterfront for decades.
Stacey Sniezak, a Long Beach resident who has lived in her home for 45 years, told ABC 7 that she was heartbroken by the destruction caused by the waves and high tides.
She questioned how the damage to her property could be repaired, saying the situation had reached a point where fixing it appeared impossible.
Coastal Flood Warning Covers Los Angeles County Beaches
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning on Friday afternoon for beaches across Los Angeles County, with the alert scheduled to remain in effect until 3pm on Sunday.
Forecasters expected waves measuring between four and seven feet, while morning high tides were projected to exceed seven feet.
Long Beach Fire Department Assistant Chief Jake Heflin said the area could experience an unusually high tide reaching between 7.8 and eight feet.
He warned that the potential flooding was not limited to the Peninsula or the Naples neighbourhood, but could affect areas across the city.
The Weather Service also warned of coastal flooding, beach erosion and damage to beach roads and structures.
Residents and visitors were advised to avoid beaches, coastal walkways, vulnerable roads and exposed structures.
Motorists were urged not to drive around road barricades or attempt to cross flooded areas.
Officials Restrict Access as Residents Prepare for More Rain
Richardson announced that vehicle access to the Peninsula would be restricted to residents, urging other members of the public to avoid the area throughout the weekend.
He said the restrictions were intended to give city crews sufficient access to carry out essential work in the affected neighbourhood.
Local authorities distributed 7,600 sandbags to help residents protect their properties against flooding.
Forecasters expected rain to spread across the area from Saturday night into Sunday morning, with showers potentially continuing through Tuesday night.
Strong winds, elevated ocean levels and further high tides were also expected to contribute to deteriorating coastal conditions.
