Tropical Storm Rachel has caused massive destruction across Long Beach's Alamitos Peninsula, wiping out a historic boardwalk and forcing several evacuations. at least eight buildings have been declared unsafe for entry as the storm's surge continues to batter the coastline.
Eight buildings red-tagged as Rachel breaches Alamitos Peninsula seawalls
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson confirmed that the storm's powerful waves breached the protective bulkhead and seawall along Seaside Walk. This breach resulted in at least eight buildings, representing 13 specific addresses, being red-tagged as unsafe for entry. As the report states, the surge also destroyed the century-old wooden boardwalk, making the area inaccessible to the public.
A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for residents living on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th places, with the order scheduled to last until Tuesday noon. To facilitate emergency repairs, the city has restricted vehicle access to the peninsula to residents only, allowing crews to move essential equipment into the hardest-hit areas. The National Weather Service has maintained a coastal flooding warning through Sunday afternoon, warning of continued high surf.
The sand berm controversy and potential class action litigation
Long Beach resident Robert Wells has claimed that the city's own mitigation efforts may have exacerbated the destruction. According to the news source,Wells argued that a sand berm constructed to protect beachfront properties actually increased the severity of the damage. He suggested that if the city had taken no action, the impact might have been minor rather than major.
This dispute highlights a growing tension in coastal management:the efficacy of artificial barriers in the face of intensifying storm surges. As sea levels rise and storm patterns shift, the debate over whether to build up defenses or allow natural erosion is becoming a central conflict for coastal communities. wells further claimed that residents are currently organizing a class action lawsuit against the city of Long Beach in response to the damage.
Imminent king tides threaten Seaside Walk's remaining structures
The threat to the Alamitos Peninsula is not yet over, as residents prepare for the arrival of a king tide. Resident John Fernando noted that the ocean has already stripped away layers of sand, exposing previously buried strutcures and rocks. Natalie Cabrera, a local renter, reported that the water surged up through the ground, causing significant damage to her home's foundation.. Despite the devastation, neighbors have been working around the clock,with residents like Mike Peters and John Hurnando shoveling sand and reinforcing properties to prevent further loss.
Several critical questions remain regarding the long-term viability of the neighborhood. it is currently unclear if the city will investigate the role of the sand berm in the destruction or how it will respond to the threatened legal action from residents. Furthermore, with the king tide approaching, officials have yet to confirm if the current red-tagged buildings can be salvaged or if the area faces permanent structural loss.
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