A promising 2028 Team USA Olympian has lost her California beachfront home to the ocean's fury, exacerbated by Tropical Storm Rachel and a series of previous storms. Paris Porter, a 30-year-old hopeful for the upcoming Olympic Games, shared a video on social media showing her home collapsing into the sea.
"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. She described the situation as devastating, particularly for neighbors who suffered greater losses. "Three hurricane swells in six weeks in Southern California? Unheard of..."
According to Long Beach Fire Department spokesperson Melanie Miller, the damage began with Hurricane Marie in September and has been compounded by subsequent storms, including Hurricane Polo and now Rachel. "It's been continuous damage since then," Miller stated.
Porter and her husband, RJ Porter, who rented the home, described the destruction as heartbreaking, noting that they had begun their married life there and shared many personal milestones. The couple has secured temporary housing for the next eight months while they assess their next steps.
Porter, whose brother is also a professional sailor, competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. She is focused on competing in the 2028 Olympic Games.
Tropical Storm Rachel brought high winds and towering waves to Southern California over the weekend, battering Long Beach's century-old boardwalk. Footage from Friday night showed massive swells crashing against homes, with sections of buildings and boardwalk debris washing into the ocean. Floodwaters also inundated nearby streets and properties.
Mayor Rex Richardson characterized the situation as unusual, noting the occurrence of three hurricanes within six weeks, causing continuous damage to properties and the coastline. "This is easily the most damage I have seen over the past couple of weeks," said KTLA's Rich Prickett, who captured aerial footage of the destruction. "Now the entire boardwalk is just starting to shred away, and now some of these homes are being impacted even more severely."
The National Weather Service had issued a coastal flood warning for Los Angeles County beaches from Friday afternoon until Sunday, anticipating waves of four to seven feet. Neighbor Stacey Sniezak expressed her heartbreak over the widespread impact on residents losing their homes.
Local officials distributed 7,600 sandbags to assist residents in protecting their properties. However, officials noted the limitations of such measures against powerful tidal surges. Long Beach Fire Department Assistant Chief Jake Heflin warned of potential citywide impacts from unprecedented high tides.
Mayor Richardson emphasized the city's serious approach to the situation and highlighted the need for greater focus on climate and coastal resilience in the region and the state.