Long Beach officials evacuated approximately 20 homes on the Long Beach Peninsula Monday evening, citing concerns over structural damage from unusually high tides. The residences affected are located along Seaside Walk, spanning from 63rd to 67th Place, after the seawall and boardwalk in the area were found to be compromised.
The Long Beach Fire Department shared on Instagram that there were also reports of damaged and cracked concrete between several of these homes. The area, nestled between the Alamitos Bay jetty and the breakwater, is historically prone to significant impact from high surf when powerful waves funnel through.
Over the long weekend, south-facing beaches in Long Beach and Malibu experienced particularly harsh conditions due to a combination of high swells, abnormally high tides, and waves charged by Tropical Storm Marie. Dramatic video from Sunday showed powerful waves relentlessly slamming into the seawall and boardwalk, sending water and sand into the oceanfront neighborhood. Sand berms that had been constructed in anticipation of the storm were completely washed away.
While Southern California's high tides typically fluctuate between 4 to 5 feet, occasionally reaching 6 to 6.5 feet around this time of year, recent conditions have pushed these levels significantly higher. Unprecedented heat in the ocean, which causes water to expand, has contributed to tides as high as 6.7 feet on Sunday, 7 feet on Monday evening, with a forecast of 7.2 feet for Tuesday.
The evacuation orders were issued as a precautionary measure, allowing the city’s Building and Safety Bureau to thoroughly evaluate the structural integrity and condition of the homes. On Monday, as crews surveyed the damage, first responders noticed concerning cracks near several residences. Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree informed the Long Beach Post that concrete slabs between the homes had begun to crack or buckle, with some fissures extending up to or even under the homes' walls.
As mitigation and response efforts continue, city officials have closed the Peninsula area to vehicular traffic, with the exception of residents, until further notice. Additionally, the Junipero Beach parking lot remains closed from Monday into Tuesday due to ongoing coastal impacts.
