Seawall Damage Triggers Evacuations
Long Beach Evacuates Twenty Homes Following Seawall Damage From Powerful Storm Swells
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The storm itself did not make landfall; its swells pushed Pacific water over the peninsula’s protective berm and into nearby streets and homes.
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Assistant Fire Chief Jake Heflin warned that water had reached the top of the boardwalk before high tide, calling the conditions “serious things.”
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The city used a contractor to jet-blast sand from overwhelmed storm drains, deployed three portable pumps with additional units on standby, and had volunteers as young as 15 help fill 2,000 sandbags.
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The affected stretch has historically been especially vulnerable when powerful waves pass between the Alamitos Bay jetty and the breakwater, which otherwise help shield the community.
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Storm conditions also closed the Junipero Beach parking-lot access roads to the Long Beach Peninsula, with entry limited to residents and closures potentially continuing through the evening or until further notice.
About 20 homes along Long Beach's Seaside Walk were evacuated Monday after Tropical Storm Marie sent powerful swells and unusually high tides crashing over the seawall and boardwalk. LA Times reported that city officials ordered the precautionary evacuations after inspectors found cracked and buckled concrete near several residences, raising concerns about possible foundation damage.
Waves pushed seawater and sand into streets and homes, overwhelming storm drains and washing away protective sand berms. NBC Los Angeles noted that city crews deployed pumps, distributed thousands of sandbags, and restricted beach access as another high tide threatened the area through Tuesday.
Storm Swells Breach Peninsula's Main Defense
Tropical Storm Marie never made landfall, but its ocean swells proved devastating. Yahoo News reported that water levels reached approximately 7 feet Monday as waves repeatedly struck the seawall. The pentagon's geography made it especially vulnerable: powerful waves funneled between the Alamitos Bay jetty and the breakwater, which normally shield the community from direct ocean impact.
Assistant Fire Chief Jake Heflin warned that water had reached the top of the boardwalk before high tide, calling conditions "serious things." Sand from the waves clogged storm drains, turning wave overtopping into broader street flooding that affected multiple blocks near the vulnerable stretch.
City Mobilizes Pumps and 2,000 Sandbags
Long Beach deployed three portable pumps with additional units on standby to combat rising water. The city used a contractor to jet-blast sand from overwhelmed drains and distributed approximately 2,000 sandbags to residents. LA Times reported that volunteers as young as 15 helped fill sandbags throughout the day.
Police and health officials assisted displaced residents, while transit buses transported families away from flooded areas. Access to the peninsula was restricted to residents only, with road closures potentially continuing through the evening or until water levels receded and structural inspections were complete.
Coastal Hazards Continue Through Tuesday
The National Weather Service warned of dangerous rip currents, large breaking waves, and continued coastal flooding along parts of Los Angeles and Orange County coasts through Tuesday. Junipero Beach parking-lot access roads remained closed, limiting entry to peninsula residents while crews worked to stabilize seawalls and boardwalks.
Building inspectors assessed structural integrity of all 20 evacuated homes to determine whether foundation damage had occurred. Officials said evacuations were precautionary while teams managed ongoing flooding and prepared for the next high tide cycle expected over the following day.
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