Long Beach\u2019s Peninsula neighborhood is cleaning up after waves and rain flooded about a dozen garages and a couple of homes. Authorities said one home was so severely damaged that they\u2019re checking to make sure it\u2019s still structurally sound.<\/p>\n
The high surf and downpour over the weekend were driven by Hurricane Marie hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean. Although it was far from hurricane-force locally, the storm still sent strong waves crashing into the Peninsula\u2019s boardwalk, with water cascading into the air and onto nearby streets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree said firefighters and Public Works employees helped locals fill sandbags. Crews also worked to reinforce a protective sand berm that was quickly eroded by the ocean swell.<\/p>\n It was strong enough that the city\u2019s AquaLink water taxi was pushed into the Alamitos Jetty, where firefighters had to help get it back to dock, Crabtree said. And in a rare sight for Long Beach, lifeguards had to help three surfers back to shore, he said.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time the Peninsula has dealt with high tides and hurricane-driven waves this year<\/a>. And more could be coming. An exceptionally strong El Ni\u00f1o this year is expected to give the coastal neighborhood a glimpse<\/a> of what rising sea levels could mean<\/a>.<\/p>\n