Long Beach will open four additional sandbag distribution sites Thursday as officials urge residents to prepare for possible coastal flooding, high surf and rain associated with Hurricane Rachel.
The sites will begin distributing sand and sandbags at 10 a.m. Thursday and will remain available through Tuesday, according to city officials.
Residents in low-lying areas, particularly the Alamitos Peninsula and Alamitos Bay, are being urged to take precautions against potential flooding.
Sand and sandbags will be available at the following locations:
— Fire Station 7, 2295 Elm St.;
— Fire Station 12, 1199 E. Artesia Blvd.;
— Fire Station 13, 2475 Adriatic Ave.; and
— Fire Station 14, 5200 E. Eliot St.
Sand and sandbags are also available at the Claremont Beach Parking Lot, 5400 E. Ocean Blvd., which opened Sunday and will remain available through Tuesday, officials said.
The materials are available only to Long Beach residents, who must present identification and are limited to 10 bags per person. Residents are advised to bring their own shovels or other tools to fill the bags.
Empty sandbags are also available at all Long Beach Fire Department neighborhood fire stations.
City officials said residents who fill sandbags now should consider storing them for use during the winter storm season.
The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory through 2 p.m. Tuesday as southerly swells, including those generated by Hurricane Rachel, threaten vulnerable beaches.
Surf could reach 3 to 6 feet along south-facing beaches Thursday and Friday, with dangerous rip currents and potential coastal flooding during high tides, according to the city.
Morning and evening high tides are expected to reach 6.5 to 7 feet through Thursday, with slightly lower evening tides Friday.
Forecasters said the greatest coastal flooding concerns will come Sunday, particularly during the morning high tide, when water levels could reach about 7.5 feet.
The Alamitos Peninsula is among the areas most vulnerable to shallow flooding, beach erosion and localized damage, according to city officials.
Additional swells from the west and southwest could prolong hazardous surf and flooding conditions into early next week.
Meanwhile, moisture associated with Rachel could bring light rain to Los Angeles County as early as Saturday morning, although Saturday night into Sunday morning is considered more likely.
Rain chances are expected to continue into Monday, with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
City officials urged residents to monitor weather conditions and prepare for possible flooding before the weekend.