Powerful storm batters waterfront property in California, leaving homes crumbling into the ocean
Tropical Storm Rachel’s high tides and powerful surf have eroded Long Beach’s coastline, tearing apart part of a century-old boardwalk and leaving waterfront homes at risk of collapse. Officials have restricted access to the damaged area and are assessing whether further evacuations will be needed as more severe weather approaches.
Eight homes on the city’s Peninsula were red-tagged as unsafe to enter, while a ninth received a yellow tag allowing occupants to retrieve belongings but not stay. Inspectors are checking properties twice daily, and tags may change if repairs are approved. Forecasters warned of four-to-seven-foot waves, morning high tides above seven feet and further rain and strong winds; the city distributed 7,600 sandbags.
- Rachel’s surf tore away nearly 30 feet of Long Beach boardwalk.
- Eight homes were declared unsafe to enter.
- More high tides, rain and strong winds were forecast.
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Long Beach, California, is a coastal city where waterfront residents and properties face ongoing threats from the Pacific Ocean. Tropical storms bring powerful waves, high tides and wind that erode the coastline and damage homes built along the shore.
Coastal erosion naturally occurs over time as waves and tides reshape shorelines, but severe storms can cause rapid and dramatic damage. Homes in these areas face particular risk because the ground beneath them can literally wash away, making properties that seemed stable suddenly dangerous.
When major storms threaten coastal communities, local officials must quickly assess which properties are still safe and what measures might protect homes and residents. This often means restricting access to damaged areas, conducting inspections, and sometimes ordering people to leave their homes.