Long Beach homes red-tagged as high surf from Tropical Storm Rachel damages shoreline
Tropical Storm Rachel has caused significant damage to oceanfront homes in Long Beach, California, leading to red-tagging of structures and mandatory evacuations. City officials are using the event to urge residents to prepare for the upcoming El Niño season.
Why it matters
The event underscores the increasing vulnerability of coastal infrastructure to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate patterns.
LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- High surf driven by Tropical Storm Rachel continued to batter Long Beach on Sunday, damaging oceanfront homes, prompting evacuation orders and threatening portions of the city's coastline.
With a Coastal Flooding Advisory in effect until Wednesday, the city continued to brace for waves relentlessly pummeling the shoreline.
Eight structures, representing about 13 addresses received red tags. The side of one of the homes along 66th Street closest to the ocean was left completely exposed as waves pushed water into the structure, with furniture hanging from broken windows. One structure has been yellow-tagged.
"I don't know what's going to happen moving forwards I mean look at that- the ocean is literally in people's living room," Long Beach resident Gabriella Holt said.
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