Weather 
LONG BEACH, Calif. () — High surf driven by Tropical Storm Rachel continued to batter Long Beach on Sunday, damaging oceanfront homes, prompting evacuation orders and threatening portions of the city’s coastline.
With a coastal flooding advisory in effect, the city continued to brace for waves relentlessly pummeling the shoreline.
Eight structures, representing about 13 addresses received red tags. The side of one of the homes along 66th Street closest to the ocean was left completely exposed as waves pushed water into the structure, with furniture hanging from broken windows.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen moving forwards I mean look at that- the ocean is literally in people’s living room,” Long Beach resident Gabriella Holt said.
Mandatory evacuation orders remained in place for several streets, including 64th and 65th streets, as powerful waves sent water into the foundations of homes. Some surrounding areas were under evacuation warnings.
“Stay out of those structures. People are trying to go in and get their belongings and understandably those are very difficult things to process and deal but their safety is first and foremost,” said Jake Heflin, assistant fire chief with the Long Beach Fire Department.
Along the shoreline, crews stacked 3,000-pound sandbags to help reinforce a crumbling boardwalk against the high surf and high tide.
The effects of Tropical Storm Rachel were felt elsewhere in the city as well, with at least half an inch of rain reported throughout Long Beach.
Officials urged residents to use the storm as a reminder to prepare for future weather events as the region enters El Niño season.
“This is the beginning of the El Niño season and so we need to make sure the whole community is prepared. We need to make sure people are taking action now – this is a good time to get those sandbags before we have heavy rains come. This may not manifest into much this event but that’s not to say that it won’t occur throughout the El Niño season,” Heflin said.
Long Beach officials continued monitoring conditions as waves and coastal flooding impacts persisted along the shoreline.
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