Long Beach officials were urging residents Saturday to prepare for high tides, large swells and possible coastal flooding from swells generated by Hurricane Polo, with the greatest flooding risk expected Monday and Tuesday.
Southerly ocean swells from Polo are forecast to affect the Long Beach coastline through Wednesday, with residents of the Peninsula and Belmont Shore advised to prepare for high tides and swell activity, according to the city.
The beach along the Peninsula has been closed for public safety, and residents were urged to stay off sand berms and avoid areas where heavy equipment is operating.
Sand and sandbags are available at the Claremont Parking Lot, 5400 E. Ocean Blvd., where city crews will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist residents as needed.
Sand and sandbags are not available at the Lifeguard Station at 72nd Place because of city storm operations, officials said.
The preparations follow significant coastal impacts from Hurricane Marie over Labor Day weekend, when high surf damaged public and private property in Long Beach.
As part of its preparations for Polo, the city is testing a pilot approach aimed at reducing the effects of water and wave energy by temporarily reinforcing portions of the Peninsula bulkhead with large, heavy-duty sandbags.
Crews are also continuing to reinforce vulnerable sections of the pedestrian boardwalk, while K-rails at the 72nd Place parking lot will remain in place to help prevent water intrusion that could cause additional impacts on the Peninsula. The K-rail approach was tested during Hurricane Marie, according to the city.
The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday ratified City Manager Tom Modica’s proclamation of a local emergency in response to developing El Nino conditions and the impacts of Hurricane Marie.
City officials said the emergency proclamation will allow Long Beach to expand preparedness efforts and exercise emergency powers if severe winter weather causes flooding, coastal damage, landslides or other emergencies.
The city is also urging residents to prepare for potentially severe winter weather associated with forecast El Nino conditions.
Residents can sign up for the city’s emergency notification system, Alert Long Beach, at alertlb.com.
Additional emergency preparedness information is available at longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness.