Southern California’s coastline has been battered by high tides and massive waves associated with Tropical Storm Rachel, prompting warnings about potential damage to low-lying areas. Forecasters indicated that Sunday's biggest threat came from elevated tides, with impacts expected to continue for several days.
Long Beach, in particular, has seen significant coastal impact, with waves crashing directly into homes along the shoreline. Officials estimate that repair costs could range from $1.5 million to $3.5 million. Funding for these repairs is slated to come from the Tidelands Emergency Reserves, according to Newsweek.
Several properties owned by public figures have also faced renewed threats. Homes belonging to Kim Kardashian, Nicolas Cage, Cindy Crawford, and Randy Gerber are among those at risk. Nicolas Cage’s $10.5 million Malibu beachfront property, which the actor purchased in 2024, has experienced issues before; it was previously damaged by severe coastal erosion in September, and a massive sinkhole opened beneath its driveway, tearing through the public roadway near Lechuza Beach. Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber's luxurious property is also facing severe beach erosion, with the ocean actively pounding against their guest house.
Dan Fox, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California, explained to KABC that as the waves impact these structures, they are "pulling the soil away from the foundations and the substructures of these buildings," potentially undermining their stability.
The National Weather Service issued a warning on Sunday, stating that coastal flooding remains a threat across San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties until Tuesday. These events are occurring as El Niño conditions intensify, leading to unusually high sea levels and dangerous coastal flooding.
In preparation for Storm Rachel, state employees were observed fortifying beaches and properties. Long Beach city employees constructed natural barriers to mitigate the storm's effects and plan to bring in 50,000 to 100,000 cubic yards of sand next week to strengthen coastal defenses in vulnerable areas. Despite these efforts, at least one house along the Long Beach shoreline appears to have sustained substantial damage, with broken wood and shattered glass visible on the ground.
The recent storm has already begun to reshape the local housing market. Juan Huizar of Sage Real Estate Group told Realtor.com that it would be a "very hard sell" for buyers interested in the Peninsula right now. He noted that, from an insurance perspective, homes directly on the water might no longer be desirable.
