Aspiring Olympian Loses Home to Tropical Storm Rachel in Long Beach
Paris Porter, aiming for the 2028 LA Olympics, shares heartfelt video after her rented beachfront mansion was destroyed by severe weather.
An aspiring Olympian aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Games has lost her home to the severe weather brought by Tropical Storm Rachel, which battered the Long Beach coast over the weekend. Paris Porter, who competes in sailing, posted a video expressing her grief over the destruction of her beachfront residence.
"You know that house you constantly see half-crumbled in the news, drone shots, and viral posts of the Long Beach Peninsula? Well, that was our home," Porter wrote on social media. "Three hurricane swells in six weeks in Southern California? Unheard of… Seeing the destruction, not only to our house but to everyone around us, breaks our hearts."
Porter, who was renting the home with her husband, RJ Porter, said the property had been a place of peace for them as they started their life together. She shared videos of waves impacting the coast, detailing the devastating loss.
Tropical Storm Rachel caused significant damage along Long Beach's Alamitos Peninsula. According to Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, at least eight buildings, representing 13 addresses, were red-tagged as unsafe. An additional property was yellow-tagged, allowing residents limited access to retrieve belongings.
City officials stated that the damage was cumulative, resulting from a series of strong storms over recent weeks. Long Beach Fire Department spokesperson Melanie Miller noted that the initial collapse began with Hurricane Marie in early September, followed by Hurricane Polo and now Rachel, leading to continuous damage. Preparations, including the deployment of sandbags, were undertaken, but Miller indicated that the dynamic coastal conditions limited their effectiveness.
Mayor Richardson emphasized the seriousness of the situation, highlighting the need for a strong focus on climate resilience and coastal preparedness in the region and the state.
Porter and her husband are currently in temporary housing for the next eight months as they navigate their next steps. She described her viral video as a "way to reflect" and expressed gratitude for the supportive responses received. "We know we will be okay moving forward and that is lucky, and we don’t take it for granted," she added.