Severe Damage on Long Beach Peninsula Due to Tropical Storm Rachel

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Long Beach Peninsula is grappling with significant destruction as the impact of Tropical Storm Rachel continues to manifest. For the fourth consecutive day, powerful waves resulting from the storm have battered coastal homes, causing extensive damage and raising concerns about structural integrity.

Inspection and Structural Damage

To date, inspectors have red-tagged eight buildings along the boardwalk, affecting 13 individual addresses, with one additional structure receiving a yellow-tag designation. The number of damaged buildings may increase as assessors conduct further evaluations.

With a narrow time frame between successive high tides, crews scrambled to inspect properties before the next surge of water anticipated around 10 a.m. Monday. Another opportunity for inspection will arise before Monday evening’s high tide.

Alarming Conditions Reported

Recent video footage illustrates the extent of the damage, showcasing broken windows and doors alongside hazardous conditions that threaten the stability of the homes. The relentless waves have eroded sand from beneath several structures, potentially compromising their foundations.

One notable home exhibited a crack extending from its foundation to the roof, visibly shifting at its front half. “As the waves are hitting these structures, it’s pulling the soil away from the foundations and the substructures of these buildings, potentially undermining the foundations of these buildings,” explained Dan Fox, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California.

Evacuation Orders and Community Response

A mandatory evacuation remains in effect for residents along 64th and 65th streets on Seaside Walk. Local residents are grappling with the situation, as many stated they were unprepared for the level of devastation witnessed this year.

Long Beach resident Gabriella Holt commented, “Long Beach is on sand, right? We’re built on sand. If the ocean gets far enough into the structures where the sand sits, it sucks it out. This is what happens. I’ve lived here 12 years and have never seen anything… even just this collapse.”

Loss of Protective Measures

Efforts to safeguard homes, such as sand berms, have proven ineffective as they were completely washed away during recent tides. While residents routinely prepare with sandbags for high surf and flooding, many were caught off guard by the sheer magnitude of this natural disaster.

Looking Ahead

As the situation evolves, additional inspections and community support will be crucial in addressing the ongoing challenges faced by residents of the Long Beach Peninsula.