Two Orange County beach cities, Laguna Beach and Dana Point, have declared local states of emergency this week following significant erosion and property damage caused by high tides. The high surf, associated with the fringes of Hurricane Marie, has brought immediate concerns to waterfront properties and public infrastructure. San Clemente is preparing to seek its own emergency declaration at its City Council meeting next week, assessing substantial damage to its pier and a crucial coastal train line, which has been closed indefinitely. This situation is particularly pressing as the National Weather Service announced Thursday a 75% chance of a historic El Niño event this winter, which is expected to bring even stronger storms and further erosion to the coast.
The city of San Clemente sustained notable damage to its pier, including a pylon and 17 braces, with repair costs estimated at approximately $300,000, according to a staff report. The San Clemente City Council is expected to consider an emergency declaration at its upcoming meeting to address these impacts.
Further impacting local commuters and residents, strong surf on Sunday damaged a section of the train line that runs between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station and the Oceanside stop in San Diego County. A news release stated that "waves overtopped the tracks in the affected area" and caused further deterioration along the adjacent slope, including damage to some previously placed protective rock. This damage has led to an indefinite closure of the tracks.
Crews have been working to stabilize the damaged section of the rail line by adding large boulders, known as riprap. However, San Clemente city officials have expressed concerns that riprap could exacerbate the deterioration of the city's already shrinking coastline, a problem for which lack of funding has been a long-standing issue. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) stated in a Tuesday news release that it is collaborating with city officials on both ongoing stabilization efforts and longer-term planning to improve the resiliency of the coastal rail corridor. OCTA also noted its work to advance near-term stabilization and "sand placement efforts" to help protect the existing rail line.
San Clemente city officials are also calling on the OC Board of Supervisors to declare a county-wide state of emergency. This broader declaration would help address the general damages and the "unanticipated costs" associated with the storm impacts across the region.
In Laguna Beach, which declared its emergency Friday morning, six homes have been yellow-tagged, indicating restricted entry due to damage to sea walls. Additionally, several beaches and parking lots in Laguna Beach remain closed because of continued erosion and high surf. Dana Point declared its emergency Wednesday night, reporting that nine homes have been red-tagged—deemed unsafe to inhabit—and seven yellow-tagged following high swells, according to a city press release.
These local emergencies are set to last for one full week from their declaration dates unless the respective cities choose to extend them. Laguna Beach City Manager Dave Kiff stated in a news release, "Most of us have never seen this much sand leave our beaches at once." He added that with a very strong El Niño forecast, the city needs "the ability to act quickly to protect homes, beaches and public infrastructure" and while they expect the sand to return, they are "not counting on it."
