LONG BEACH, Calif. () — Officials in Long Beach Saturday plan to announce the city’s latest preparations for Hurricane Rachel and efforts to address coastal flooding and tidal surges, particularly along the Peninsula.
The scheduled 1 p.m. news conference comes one day after waves pounded a portion of the Long Beach waterfront Friday, damaging a boardwalk and homes in an area already battered by coastal erosion, with city officials reporting five damaged structures and warning that the worst conditions may still be ahead.
Footage shot Saturday morning shows waves continuing to hit the damaged boardwalk near East Ocean Boulevard and 68th Place.
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning Friday afternoon for Los Angeles County beaches through 3 p.m. Sunday, warning that damaging ocean flooding is likely along vulnerable south-facing beaches, particularly in Long Beach and Malibu.
Forecasters also issued a high surf advisory from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, with waves of 4 to 7 feet expected, along with strong rip currents and significant beach erosion.
The city reported Friday afternoon that two structures had been red- tagged and three others yellow-tagged, restricting access to the damaged buildings along the Alamitos Peninsula.
“Building crews are currently assessing damage and impacts seen from wave activity this morning,” Laath Martin, a spokesman for the city, told City News Service. “Currently there are two red tags and three yellow tags. We will provide updates once crews have completed their assessments.”
A red tag indicates that a structure is unsafe for entry, while a yellow tag allows a property owner to enter temporarily to retrieve belongings but prohibits occupancy until the building is deemed structurally safe.
Images broadcast from the Alamitos Peninsula area near Alamitos Channel, which separates Long Beach from Seal Beach across the Orange County line, showed waves crashing over a seawall and the boardwalk behind it and flowing through to East Ocean Boulevard.
Some sand berms built after the previous round of high surf were washed away in spots. Damage was visible to the boardwalk, with debris floating offshore as waves washed around and beneath waterfront homes.
City officials said 7,600 sandbags had been distributed to residents preparing for the latest storm, bringing the total distributed during three recent storms to approximately 15,000.
Sand and sandbag distribution sites have also been activated at fire stations throughout Long Beach as officials prepare for additional impacts from Tropical Storm Rachel.
The city has developed a seven-point plan to strengthen protection of the Alamitos Peninsula, including repairing damaged infrastructure, replenishing beach sand, creating additional protective barriers and pursuing longer-term coastal protection projects and funding, officials said.
The weather service warned that coastal flooding could damage beach roads and structures, particularly around morning high tides, while significant erosion is expected along beaches.
High tides of 7.3 to 7.6 feet are expected each morning, with forecasters warning that conditions could deteriorate Sunday as swells from multiple directions combine with strong winds, rain and elevated ocean water levels associated with Tropical Storm Rachel.
Forecasters said the severity of Sunday’s coastal flooding remains uncertain, with the possibility of substantially greater damage if multiple weather and ocean conditions peak simultaneously.
The coastal flood warning could be extended beyond Sunday or replaced by a coastal flood advisory through Tuesday, according to the weather service.
Winds over coastal waters are expected to increase Saturday and Sunday, potentially reaching 20 to 30 knots and generating steep, choppy seas hazardous to small vessels.
Forecasters warned that large breaking waves could injure beachgoers, sweep people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore.
The weather service urged residents and visitors to stay off beaches, coastal walkways and vulnerable roads and structures, and warned motorists not to drive around barricades or through floodwaters of unknown depth.
Forecasters cautioned that the severity of rainfall, winds and coastal flooding will depend heavily on Rachel’s eventual track and intensity.
Rain is expected to spread across the region Saturday night into Sunday morning, with showers potentially continuing through Tuesday night.
Rainfall totals through Sunday evening were expected to range from one- tenth to one-half inch across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with up to an inch possible in the San Gabriel Mountains, according to the weather service.
The latest damage follows an earlier round of high surf that battered homes along the 6400 and 6500 blocks of Seaside Walk, prompting city and fire inspectors to evaluate the structures.
Long Beach officials said crews will continue monitoring conditions and assessing damage as the storm approaches.
Powerful waves damaged homes, breached a protective bulkhead and flooded streets as Long Beach residents prepared for more severe weather.
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