High water left a big mark on Huntington Beach this week, and officials say it may just be the start. City officials report 114 homes and other buildings along the coast were damaged by flooding tied to king tides, with six homes tagged for restricted access because of safety concerns. A lithium ion battery damaged by saltwater sparked a fire in one structure, the Los Angeles Times reports. The city declared a local emergency Monday, set up a command post, and deployed extra crews, but still logged “significant impacts.”
Residents in low-lying areas like Sunset Beach and Huntington Harbour are being urged to stock up on sandbags, secure property, and review evacuation plans. A Sunset Beach resident told KTLA that mold is a concern now. “It is a health risk and that is the biggest worry for me because I live on the second floor so I don’t have water but I can already smell it coming up the walls,” the resident said. Although tides eased by Friday, the city warned that late November’s highs could be worse, as El Niño-linked storms loom over Orange County’s coast.