California Coastal Cities Scramble as Hurricane Polo Approaches

California's coastal cities are rapidly preparing for the impact of Hurricane Polo, a powerful storm churning in the Pacific Ocean. Long Beach has declared an emergency, granting city crews greater flexibility to reinforce beaches that were significantly eroded by Hurricane Marie earlier this month.

Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica's emergency declaration was ratified by the City Council on Tuesday. The city is working to rebuild sand barriers in anticipation of Polo's arrival this weekend. "Everything is not built back up again, so it's a little nerve-wracking for sure," said Long Beach resident Charley Snyder.

Long Beach Councilmember Kristina Duggan highlighted the destructive power of Hurricane Marie, stating it was "not a normal coastal storm." She noted that in just two days, portions of the Peninsula beach lost more than eight feet in height, putting tens of millions of dollars in city infrastructure and private property at risk.

Approximately 33 miles southeast, Newport Beach is facing a similar challenge. City councilmember Erik Weigand described ongoing efforts to shore up the beach's berm ahead of Polo. "Hurricane Marie left us with a lot less sand than we started with," Weigand told CBS News, "and so our guys are shoring up our defenses and making sure this parking lot doesn't flood and that the residents and businesses behind the beach here, they don't flood."

Newport Beach has been working to reinforce its shores with sand, reportedly gathering 200,000 cubic yards from the nearby Santa Ana River under an emergency permit. The city is preparing for projected wave heights of four to six feet.

Polo, currently a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, was located about 165 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. It had previously reached Category 5 strength. Experts described it as "one of the strongest storms ever in the (Pacific) Basin."

While a direct landfall in California appears unlikely, weather models indicate potential tracks for Polo or its remnants toward California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas over the next seven to 10 days. Southern California could experience effects even if the hurricane remains offshore. Residents express concern about the potential for life-changing damage, particularly given the recent impacts from Hurricane Marie.