Monster waves, reaching up to 12 feet high, battered Long Beach, California, causing significant destruction to homes and infrastructure, including a seawall and boardwalk. The extreme surf, generated by offshore Hurricane Marie, led to mandatory evacuations for approximately 20 beachfront homes.
Residents described the rapid onset of the flooding. "The conditions were very normal," Evelina Mardirossian, 77, told The California Post. "And within five minutes, the entire street became a lake." Mardirossian and her husband, David Black, 75, reported losing vehicles valued at $60,000 due to garage flooding.
The waves tore through sections of the seawall separating the shore from the residences, sending water and debris onto properties. Homeowners attempted to protect their homes with sandbags and plywood, but the surf continued to pound the neighborhood. Del Sunperk, 49, expressed regret for not being better prepared, stating, "I wish I had known it was coming. I would at least put the sand bag where my front door is."
Beyond the visible damage, residents voiced concerns about the structural integrity of their homes. Jen Pieracci-Jensen, 45, noted that the tide was eroding the sand beneath the houses, and reported damaged and cracked concrete between some properties. "The sand level is eroding. So the waves are not coming up and over as much as they’re hitting our boardwalk, which is collapsing in multiple places," she said. "So yeah, it’s super stressful."
Firefighters went door-to-door Monday evening to issue evacuation orders for homes between 63rd Place and 67th Place. Evacuated residents sought shelter in local facilities or hotels, while others stayed with family. City inspectors were scheduled to clear homes on Wednesday morning.
While Hurricane Marie weakened to a tropical storm hundreds of miles offshore, its remnants contributed to high surf and widespread coastal flooding along the Southern California coast. Public works crews worked on Tuesday to reinforce a sand berm ahead of the evening high tide, attempting to mitigate further damage.