Sonali Tiwary
Residents on Long Beach’s Alamitos Peninsula are facing fresh damage after powerful surf struck the waterfront, undermining homes and damaging part of the boardwalk along Seaside Walk. At least eight homes were red-tagged after the latest round of waves, according to local reports, and some residents were ordered to leave unsafe properties.
The damage followed days of heavy surf associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel. Waves washed around and beneath shoreline protection in places, while parts of a sand berm built after earlier surf were lost. City crews have been working to protect the area with sandbags and rebuilt berms as more rough conditions remain possible.
For people living near the damaged stretch, the immediate concern is safety. A red tag means a building has been judged unsafe to occupy. It is not simply a warning of future risk: residents may be barred from entering until officials determine that the structure can be used safely.
Why the Peninsula was vulnerable
The affected area has already experienced coastal erosion. A portion of the boardwalk between 64th and 65th places on Seaside Walk collapsed further during the recent high surf, while homes near the waterfront sustained damage. Earlier reports described five damaged structures; later reports put the number of red-tagged homes at eight. Those figures reflect different points in a developing response and should not be treated as a final damage assessment.
Sand berms can offer short-term protection by creating a buffer between waves and buildings. They can be overtopped or washed away in severe surf, especially when repeated storms arrive before repairs are complete. The work now underway is intended to reduce immediate water intrusion, not to provide a permanent answer to shoreline erosion.
Local officials have restricted access around hazardous sections of the boardwalk and waterfront. People should follow closure notices and avoid damaged paths, unstable seawalls and areas where waves are reaching the built shoreline. Conditions can change quickly during high surf, even after the most intense storm weather has passed.
Why were homes red-tagged in Long Beach? The homes were red-tagged after powerful surf and erosion damaged parts of the waterfront and made some structures unsafe for occupancy. The tag is a safety measure while inspectors assess damage and the risk of further collapse.
The incident shows how quickly repeated surf can turn an existing erosion problem into a housing emergency. The immediate priorities are keeping people away from dangerous structures, protecting the shoreline where possible and assessing what repairs or longer-term coastal measures will be needed.
