Tropical Storm Rachel has caused significant damage along the Southern California coast. This includes the destruction of a boardwalk that has stood for over a century, rendering eight homes unsafe and sending fierce winds further inland.
In Long Beach, massive waves crashed through the wooden slats of the historic waterfront boardwalk, as seawater flooded the remaining sections just before Saturday night’s high tide, according to available video footage.
By Saturday evening, the boardwalk was off-limits, prompting officials to post “No trespassing” signs. Crews worked frantically to reinforce vulnerable sections before more aggressive waves hit.
Eight properties along the Peninsula in Long Beach have been marked as unsafe to enter, with one home receiving a yellow tag that allows limited access to retrieve personal items but prohibits occupancy until the area is cleared as safe, as stated by Mayor Rex Richardson.
In the Inland Empire, chaotic footage showed a structure being literally ripped from its base as two individuals struggled to hold it down against the strong winds.
As the storm’s power escalated, one man was lifted off the ground, illustrating the force of the winds. Video footage captured alarming damage, including a visible crack running from the foundation to the roof of a beachside home.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see the extent of the damage with the surf and high tides. People are losing their homes,” remarked Long Beach resident Stacey Sniezak.
Having lived on 65th Street for 45 years, Sniezak expressed her shock over the unfolding devastation, adding, “It’s just impossible to fix at this point, and I don’t know how they’re going to do that.”
The situation seems dire as officials warn that the most severe coastal conditions might still be yet to come. “It’s unusual for us to see this type of activity,” Richardson stated on Saturday, highlighting that this marks the third hurricane in just six weeks.
With Hurricane Marie hitting over Labor Day, followed quickly by Hurricane Polo, Rachel is now bringing more high tides and aggressive surf, causing further damage along the coastline.
A mandatory evacuation has been put in place for residents on 64th and 65th streets along Seaside Walk due to the heavy surf damaging homes. “We’ve limited vehicle access to the Peninsula, allowing only residents,” Richardson said, urging others to stay away this weekend to facilitate critical work by city crews.
To assist residents in safeguarding their properties, Long Beach officials have distributed approximately 7,600 sandbags, contributing to a total of around 15,000 distributed over three recent storms.
The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning for Los Angeles County beaches until 3 p.m. Sunday, particularly affecting vulnerable south-facing beaches like those in Long Beach and Malibu.
With high tide predictions reaching up to 7.6 feet each morning, forecasters caution that conditions could worsen on Sunday due to combined effects of ocean swells, heavy winds, and rain.
“We could see an unprecedented high tide, possibly between 7.8 to 8 feet, which would be very significant for this region,” noted Long Beach Fire Department Assistant Chief Jake Heflin.
Additional rain, with forecasts indicating up to half an inch in Long Beach on Sunday, could exacerbate flooding issues in lower areas of the city.
“We’re not just talking about the Peninsula, or only Naples; there’s potential for a broader citywide impact,” Heflin added.
The storm’s impact extends beyond coastal damage, as the National Weather Service warns of considerable beach erosion, strong rip currents, and hazardous conditions along the coast. Forecasts predict waves ranging from 4 to 7 feet Sunday, alongside dangerous winds affecting coastal waters.
After making landfall along northern Baja California, north of Ensenada, post-tropical Storm Rachel has managed to spare San Diego from the worst of its conditions, but it has still brought heavy rain and severe thunderstorms from California’s Imperial Valley eastward into Arizona, where flash-flood threats remain a concern.
Residents are advised to avoid beaches, coastal walkways, and susceptible structures, with a strong warning for drivers to not bypass barricades or attempt to drive through floodwaters of uncertain depth.
