Long Beach homeowners protest as Tropical Storm Rachel destroys beachfront properties

Tropical Storm Rachel has caused significant destruction along the Long Beach Peninsula in Southern California, destroying multimillion-dollar beachfront homes and damaging coastal infrastructure. Severe flooding and high tides shattered sections of a protective wooden bulkhead and shredded the historic boardwalk.

At least eight buildings across 13 addresses have been red-tagged as unsafe for entry, while others have received yellow tags for limited access. Residents have expressed intense frustration with Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, accusing city leadership of abandoning the oceanfront community. Some homeowners have also alleged that a protective sand berm implemented by the city may have inadvertently worsened the flooding.

The storm follows a period of intense weather for the region, including Hurricane Marie and Hurricane Polo. Residents are reportedly organizing legal action against the municipality in response to the damage.