Laguna Beach Declares Emergency After Pounding Hurricane Marie Surf Denuded Beaches, Damaged Homes

LAGUNA BEACH, CA. — Laguna Beach has declared a local emergency after hurricane-driven swells stripped beaches of sand, damaged coastal infrastructure and threatened several oceanfront homes.

City Manager Dave Kiff, issued the proclamation in response to sand loss caused by swells from Hurricane Marie and the threat of further damage from a forecast very strong El Niño.

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The emergency proclamation allows the city to begin shoreline protection, sand placement, debris removal, assessments and repairs without following ordinary contracting procedures.

"Most of us have never seen this much sand leave our beaches at once," Kiff said. "We expect it to come back, but we are not counting on it, and with a very strong El Niño forecast, we need the ability to act quickly to protect homes, beaches and public infrastructure."

This week's storm surge is a prelude to what is expected from winter storms during 'Super El Niño,' and it showed communities from Dana Point to Malibu don't have the infrastructure in place to stave off massive swells from breaching seawalls, denuding beaches and damaging or destroying homes.

With just months left to prepare, residents and city officials are scrambling to expedite measures to protect the community.

Swells that began Sept. 2 caused significant sand movement and erosion that remains ongoing. Six oceanfront homes on Ocean Way and Lagunita Drive have been yellow-tagged because of compromised seawalls, and part of the Aliso Beach parking lot has failed.

The south end of Lagunita Beach, Pearl Street Beach, the footpath at Christmas Cove and the Aliso Beach parking lot are temporarily closed.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. Above-normal rainfall is likely along coastal California, increasing the risk of further erosion before sand returns to city beaches.