Long Beach’s Peninsula neighborhood is cleaning up after waves and rain flooded about a dozen garages and a couple of homes. Authorities said one home was so severely damaged that they’re checking to make sure it’s still structurally sound.
The high surf and downpour over the weekend were driven by Hurricane Marie hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean. Although it was far from hurricane-force locally, the storm still sent strong waves crashing into the Peninsula’s boardwalk, with water cascading into the air and onto nearby streets.
Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree said firefighters and Public Works employees helped locals fill sandbags. Crews also worked to reinforce a protective sand berm that was quickly eroded by the ocean swell.
It was strong enough that the city’s AquaLink water taxi was pushed into the Alamitos Jetty, where firefighters had to help get it back to dock, Crabtree said. And in a rare sight for Long Beach, lifeguards had to help three surfers back to shore, he said.
This isn’t the first time the Peninsula has dealt with high tides and hurricane-driven waves this year. And more could be coming. An exceptionally strong El Niño this year is expected to give the coastal neighborhood a glimpse of what rising sea levels could mean.