intense waves generated by Hurricane Marie<\/a>, which flooded homes, damaged sections of the boardwalk and washed away sand berms along the Long Beach Peninsula.<\/p>\nWATCH: Boardwalk damaged, safety of homes questioned due to Long Beach waves<\/p>\n
Long Beach neighbors are assessing damage and preparing to rebuild after massive swells battered waterfront homes, damaging the boardwalk and eroding sand.<\/p>\n
Among those affected was resident Tom Wurzl, who said floodwaters entered multiple parts of his home.<\/p>\n
As he packs up his home, Wurzl said the damage has forced extensive repairs.<\/p>\n
Wurzl, who has lived on the peninsula for four decades, said he had “never seen anything like it.”<\/p>\n
Officials are concerned the recent damage could be an early indication of challenges associated with a strengthening El Ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n
“It is going to be a very wet winter potentially with very different conditions,” City Manager Tom Modica said.<\/p>\n
Modica proclaimed a local emergency this week. Gov. Gavin Newsom has also declared a state of emergency aimed at mobilizing resources ahead of potential weather impacts.<\/p>\n
According to the city’s proclamation, potential impacts from the El Ni\u00f1o season could exceed Long Beach’s normal day-to-day operational capabilities and require extraordinary preparedness measures, expedited procurement, additional personnel and contractual resources. The proclamation states that early preparation and the pre-positioning of resources will help protect life and property, maintain essential services and improve the city’s ability to respond to changing conditions.<\/p>\n
“It allows us to move faster, allows us to be a little bit more nimble, allows us to procure things quicker and also move city staff around to be able to best prepare ourselves,” Modica said of the local emergency declaration.<\/p>\n
City crews are working to repair the damaged boardwalk. There’s also a long-term, $9 million plan to replenish sand on local beaches, with work scheduled to begin later this fall.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, city officials are monitoring Hurricane Polo in the Pacific, which could bring another round of high surf to Southern California next week.<\/p>\n
Wurzl said he expects to be out of his home before then and hopes the flooding caused by Hurricane Marie was an isolated event.<\/p>\n
“That was, to me, an anomaly,” he said.<\/p>\n
Modica said the local emergency declaration is expected to remain in effect through the remainder of the storm season.<\/p>\n
The Long Beach City Council is expected to ratify the local emergency proclamation at a meeting Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
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