Makeshift Seawall Should Protect Balboa, Officials Say

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Newport Beach officials feel confident they have built a temporary sea wall that will hold against Thursday evening's high tide following the inadvertent destruction of the original one that caused flooding in a Balboa Peninsula neighborhood.

The city used sand bags and a berm to hold back the tides rolling in Thursday evening, said George Murdoch, the director of municipal operations for the city.

"We feel confident it's going to hold for this tide and future tides," Murdoch said. "In the event the sea wall fails, the sand berm would be the backup."

Officials expect three more days of high tides, Murdoch said.

A low tidal season will follow until the end of June, Murdoch said.

Workers did not think they could build a permanent sea wall by the end of June, so the temporary one was made as robust as possible to last until then, Murdoch said.

The flooding was reported after 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Finley Tract near 36th and Short streets, Murdoch said.

A contractor doing demolition work at a home accidentally knocked down the barrier.

About a dozen garages and a home were damaged along with at least two vehicles, Murdoch said.

Residents were encouraged to file claims with their insurance company, which will negotiate compensation through the contractor's insurance company, Murdoch said.

City News Service