Flooding Swamps OC Beach Town, Local Emergency Declared In Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Newport Beach officials declared a local emergency Friday as crews worked to contain widespread coastal flooding that inundated streets on the Balboa Peninsula following elevated tides.

City Manager Seimone Jurjis, acting as the city's director of emergency services, issued the emergency declaration Friday to help Newport Beach obtain additional resources to protect public and private property.

The flooding was reported throughout Balboa Peninsula, and residents were urged to exercise caution.

"Do not drive through flooded streets," the City of Newport Beach said in a statement. "Use alternate routes and follow directions from public safely personnel."

According to the city, crews are monitoring conditions and responding to impacted areas through Friday.

Television footage Friday showed flooded streets on the Balboa Peninsula, with pedestrians wading through standing water and vehicles partially submerged. The extent of damage was not immediately known.

As of 11:30 a.m., city crews were working to rebuild protective sand berms, while other terms were using pumps and opening tide valves to alleviate street flooding.

The news follows reports of flooding in the downtown Laguna Beach area, where powerful tides have been creating flood conditions since Thursday afternoon.

A Coastal Flood Advisory was placed over Orange County for the next several days in anticipation of Hurricane Rachel.

According to the National Weather Service, the Coastal Flood Advisory will remain in effect until 2 p.m. this Tuesday due to powerful waves of up to six feet in height projected to hit coastal Orange County.

Throughout the advisory, residents can expect the flooding of beach parking lots, boardwalks and roads.

Minor coastal erosion is also likely, the service said.

"High tides are expect to peak between six and-a-half and seven feet during the mornings and evenings," the service said in a statement. "Additional south swells may produce another round of elevated to high surf Sunday through Tuesday, highest on Sunday."

The city is providing free, prefilled sandbags at its Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave. Empty sandbags are available at Newport Beach fire stations, and lifeguards on the Balboa Peninsula also have sandbags available in their vehicles.

Newport Beach maintains a network of 86 tidal valves designed to prevent rising ocean water from backing up through storm drains, along with 18 pumps used to remove standing water from streets near the harbor.

The city has previously identified the Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Newport Island and other low-lying harborfront neighborhoods as areas particularly vulnerable to flooding during unusually high tides.

Residents seeking additional information about sandbags and flood protection can contact the city's Municipal Operations Department at 949-644- 3055.

iCity News Service contributed to this report.