‘Devastating’ waves leave California beach homes on brink of collapse

Several homes in Long Beach, California were left perilously close to collapse after waves from Tropical Storm Rachel crashed onto the city's boardwalk and coastal properties. Emergency crews were working to repair and clean up the damage left in the storm's wake. Tropical Storm Rachel dumped less rain than forecasters anticipated, but the storm's powerful waves - fueled by an unusual storm system, high tide, the effects of El Nino and climate change - proved devastating for some coastal homes.

Graphic photos and video showed the precarious state of the homes and the historic boardwalk, which was partially destroyed. Long Beach's mayor, Rex Richardson, described the storm's effects as unprecedented for the community. Several residents were ordered to evacuate, and the mayor stressed the importance of following warnings to prepare for such events, as infrastructure was not built to withstand these kinds of natural forces.

Experts warned that El Nino's effects would intensify in the winter, leading to further damage along California's coastline. To address the issue, city officials detailed a plan for immediate and long-term resiliency strategies, including repairing the damaged boardwalk and bulkhead, and dredging a portion of the beach to widen it by about 200 feet.

The National Hurricane Center noted that the worst of the storm had passed, but dangerous coastal conditions could persist for days, with the highest waves occurring at high tide, creating life-threatening surf and rip currents.