Climate & Environment

Long Beach Evacuates 20 Homes as Storm-Driven Waves Crack Seawall and Boardwalk

By Karen Garcia

Long Beach officials ordered the evacuation of about 20 homes along the Long Beach Peninsula on Monday evening after high tides fueled by Tropical Storm Marie caused significant structural damage in the area.

The Long Beach Fire Department evacuated residences along Seaside Walk, between 63rd and 67th Place, after discovering that the seawall and boardwalk had been compromised. In a post on Instagram, the department noted reports of damaged and cracked concrete between several of the homes.

This stretch of coastline has historically suffered the worst impacts from high surf, as powerful waves funnel between the Alamitos Bay jetty and the breakwater, which normally serve as a buffer between the ocean and the neighborhood.

Video captured Sunday showed large waves crashing into the seawall and boardwalk, pushing water and sand into the oceanfront community. Sand berms that had been constructed ahead of the storm were completely washed away.

Over the weekend, south-facing beaches in both Long Beach and Malibu experienced severe impacts from a combination of high swells, elevated tides, and waves intensified by the tropical storm. While tide levels in Southern California typically range from 4 to 5 feet, and occasionally reach 6 to 6.5 feet during this season, unusually warm ocean temperatures—which cause seawater to expand—have pushed tides even higher. Tides reached 6.7 feet on Sunday and 7 feet Monday evening, with forecasts predicting 7.2 feet on Tuesday.

Officials said the evacuation was ordered as a precaution, allowing the city’s Building and Safety Bureau to assess the structural condition of the affected homes. According to Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree, first responders surveying the damage Monday found troubling cracks near several properties. He told the Long Beach Post that concrete slabs between homes had begun to crack or buckle, with some fissures extending up to or beneath the walls of the houses.

In response, city officials closed the Peninsula area to vehicle traffic, with access limited to residents until further notice, as crews continue damage assessment and mitigation efforts. The Junipero Beach parking lot is also expected to remain closed from Monday into Tuesday due to ongoing coastal impacts.