NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) — The city of Newport Beach declared a local state of emergency after coastal flooding inundated streets on the Balboa Peninsula Friday morning, stranding vehicles and damaging homes and businesses.
“This declaration will help the city secure additional resources and coordinate with regional partners to meet these conditions,” Newport Beach Mayor Lauren Kleiman told reporters at a news conference Friday evening. “Our priority is the safety of our residents and visitors as well as the protection of homes, businesses and public infrastructure.”
City officials held a news conference at 6 p.m. Friday to discuss flooding concerns.
City officials held a news conference Friday at 6 p.m. to discuss flooding concerns as Newport Beach declares a local emergency.
“Currently, city staff and contractors are using heavy equipment to rebuild and reinforce protective berms along our beaches. We are expecting additional personnel and equipment from our contractors and potentially other public agencies as we issue the mutual aid request,” said Newport Beach City Manager Seimone Jurjis.
“Our goal is to reinforce as many vulnerable places as possible before the next high tide. We are prioritizing the areas most at risk and will continue to work throughout the evening and weekend,” Jurjis added.
Much of the peninsula was closed due to Tropical Storm Rachel. By Friday afternoon, the water had receded, leaving behind damage and a major cleanup effort.
“Our crews are running pumps, opening tide gates and taking additional steps to reduce street flooding,” Jurjis said. “Our police department will be ready to assist with traffic control and maintain emergency access if the community experiences further flooding.”
Rachel is still hundreds of miles away, but we are already starting to see major impacts along the coast.
“It was like I splashed, and I couldn’t close the door soon enough. I was like, ‘Oh no!'” Ali Bickell, a Newport Beach resident, said of the floodwaters.
Some residents initially tried to cross flooded roads before the city closed much of the peninsula. Dozens of vehicles remained stranded, while some people found other ways to navigate flooded streets.
The AIR7 video shows several streets covered in water. Paddleboarders were seen floating through neighborhood streets.
By Friday afternoon, the roads were reopened.
“Honestly, we thought it was AI when we saw it online. I thought, ‘This is a joke.’ “But then we got stuck in traffic, and then we saw the water go by,” said Patricia Abi Rached, owner of Beachouse Studio.
“Super dangerous. I woke up and it was right up to my car doors,” said Newport Beach resident Flynn Brown.
Sandbags will be available to residents in the city business yard at 592 Superior Avenue to help protect their properties, according to Jurjis. The facility will be open all night for sandbag distribution. Jurjis said additional sandbags would be placed at Marina Park on the peninsula. Lifeguards will also have sandbags in their vehicles at the lifeguard headquarters for Balboa Peninsula residents.
The city’s public services director, Mark Vukojevic, said flooding extended across a significant part of the peninsula.
“The reports I’ve seen indicate we probably have 15 to 20 blocks of street flooding,” Vukojevic said.
The city’s utilities director estimates there was between 15 and 20 blocks of flooding in the area Friday, with no official estimate of possible damage to homes.
Vukojevic said Friday morning’s high tide was significantly higher than expected.
“The tide this morning came in 20 inches higher than the actual predicted tide value. That’s significant, yes. We’ve seen it be, you know, 12 inches higher, but that’s kind of a record for us,” he said.
Crews worked to open tide gates and drain flooded roads. The city also built a large sand berm along the beach in anticipation of higher waves.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. Like, man, the whole street is flooded from here to the end of the block. The crazy thing is Sunday is supposed to be worse,” said Jonathan Nguyen, a Newport Beach resident.
The city is bracing for additional impacts throughout the weekend. Authorities are asking residents to protect their homes and, if possible, move their vehicles to higher ground.
A Coastal Flood Warning is in place until Tuesday afternoon for the entire SoCal coast. Sunday is the day of greatest concern, with high tide, powerful swells and rip currents possible.
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