Long Beach officials Saturday said more structures were unsafe to occupy as they work to address coastal flooding and tidal surges in preparation for Hurricane Rachel, particularly along the Alamitos Peninsula.
Waves pounded a portion of the Long Beach waterfront Friday, damaging a boardwalk and homes in an area already battered by coastal erosion.
The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning Friday afternoon for Los Angeles County beaches through 3 p.m. Sunday, warning that damaging ocean flooding is likely along vulnerable south-facing beaches, particularly in Long Beach and Malibu.
Forecasters also issued a high surf advisory from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, with waves of 4 to 7 feet expected, along with strong rip currents and significant beach erosion.
Mayor Rex Richardson announced Saturday that eight structures across 13 addresses were now red-tagged and another structure was yellow-tagged. A red tag indicates that a structure is unsafe to be occupied, while a yellow tag allows a property owner to enter temporarily to retrieve belongings but prohibits occupancy until the building is deemed structurally safe.
In addition, homes in the 6400 and 6500 blocks of Seaside Walk were under a mandatory evacuation order and people were urged to stay away from the Peninsula between Bay Shore Avenue and 72nd Place and stay off of the sand berms built to protect homes, Richardson said.
Footage shot Saturday morning showed waves continuing to hit the damaged boardwalk near East Ocean Boulevard and 68th Place.
Images broadcast from the Alamitos Peninsula area near Alamitos Channel, which separates Long Beach from Seal Beach, across the Orange County line, showed waves crashing over a seawall and the boardwalk behind it and flowing through to East Ocean Boulevard.
Some sand berms built after the previous round of high surf were washed away in spots. Damage was visible to the boardwalk, with debris floating offshore as waves washed around and beneath waterfront homes.
City officials said 10,000 sandbags had been distributed to residents preparing for the latest storm, and urged residents and businesses to keep their sandbags throughout what could be an El Nino-charged fall and winter.
Sand and sandbag distribution sites have also been activated at fire stations throughout Long Beach as officials prepare for additional impacts from Tropical Storm Rachel.
The city has developed a seven-point plan to strengthen protection of the Alamitos Peninsula, including repairing damaged infrastructure, replenishing beach sand, creating additional protective barriers and pursuing longer-term coastal protection projects and funding, officials said.
City Manager Tom Modica told reporters Saturday that crews have started moving 45,000 cubic yards of sand to add 200 feet of width to the weather-ravaged beach. That will be followed the week of Oct. 19 by a project to add 50,000 to 100,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach, to be followed by a new low-profile rock abutment. Much of the money for the projects would come from Tidelands funds.
Officials said construction-grade cranes were lifting more 3,000 lb. sand bags in place to support the sea wall.
The weather service warned that coastal flooding could damage beach roads and structures, particularly around morning high tides, while significant erosion is expected along beaches.
High tides of 7.3 to 7.6 feet are expected each morning, with forecasters warning that conditions could deteriorate Sunday as swells from multiple directions combine with strong winds, rain and elevated ocean water levels associated with Tropical Storm Rachel.
Forecasters said the severity of Sunday’s coastal flooding remains uncertain, with the possibility of substantially greater damage if multiple weather and ocean conditions peak simultaneously.
The coastal flood warning could be extended beyond Sunday or replaced by a coastal flood advisory through Tuesday, according to the weather service.
Winds over coastal waters are expected to increase Saturday and Sunday, potentially reaching 20 to 30 knots and generating steep, choppy seas hazardous to small vessels.
Forecasters warned that large breaking waves could injure beachgoers, sweep people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore.
The weather service urged residents and visitors to stay off beaches, coastal walkways and vulnerable roads and structures, and warned motorists not to drive around barricades or through floodwaters of unknown depth.
Forecasters cautioned that the severity of rainfall, winds and coastal flooding will depend heavily on Rachel’s eventual track and intensity.
Rain is expected to spread across the region Saturday night into Sunday morning, with showers potentially continuing through Tuesday night. Rainfall totals through Sunday evening were expected to range from one-tenth to one-half inch across Los Angeles County, with up to an inch possible in the San Gabriel Mountains, according to the weather service.
Long Beach officials said crews will continue monitoring conditions and assessing damage as the storm approaches.
Residents were encouraged to register for emergency notifications through Alert Long Beach at AlertLB.com and monitor updates at longbeach.gov/emergency.