Weather 
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. () — A cracked and partially collapsed seawall at an oceanfront home in Laguna Beach is raising concerns ahead of a forecasted weekend swell.
A family member of the longtime owner of the home said the damage occurred overnight around Aug. 26, when powerful surf and high tides overwhelmed the property’s seawall and fence.
“There’s a lot of history in this home and to see it damaged by Mother Nature is something you can’t control,” said the family member, who asked not to be identified.
Standing at the property, she described how quickly conditions changed.
“The seawall was still intact, everything was intact two weeks ago,” she said.
According to the family member, the fence completely collapsed and washed out to sea. The seawall also gave way and continues to deteriorate.
“Do you see the top solid piece of cement? Last night it was straight, so something dropped it again just last night,” she said. “That piece is now slightly angled. And that crack did not used to be there. That crack was not there just a few days ago.”
Aerial video from AIR7 showed a neighboring property also affected by the erosion and damage.
The family member said the home, located on Pearl Street, was built in 1951 and has remained in the family ever since as a vacation home. She said changes to the shoreline this summer have been dramatic.
“The fence would take you to the beach,” she said. “Over the 30 years I’ve been coming to this beach, I’ve been able to step outside that gate with just a 3-foot step down to the beach. Currently it’s like an 18-to-20-foot drop.”
She said the loss of sand this summer has been unprecedented and noted that a sinkhole on the property had recently been repaired after receiving an emergency permit from the California Coastal Commission.
“Four, five, six weeks ago, the sinkhole was filled, solidified and ready to go. But then a big storm hit. Mother Nature took control,” she said.
While she said the home itself is built on bedrock, the deck is not. With concerns growing over the weekend forecast and the effects of Hurricane Marie, she said the family fears further damage to a property that has been part of their lives for decades.
“We don’t want to lose what’s been a cherished heirloom for our family,” she said. “You know, you don’t want to lose where your family memories have been and we have so many good ones.”
Representatives from the California Coastal Commission and the city of Laguna Beach are expected to visit the property on Friday morning to assess the damage and determine what, if any, actions can be taken before the anticipated weekend swell.
© 2026 Television,
