LONG BEACH HIT by HURRICANE RACHEL — Homes Red Tagged & Boardwalk Destroyed

Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel battered the Long Beach Peninsula in Southern California, sending powerful waves over a damaged seawall and into oceanfront homes. By Monday, October 12, 2026, several buildings had been declared unsafe, parts of a century-old boardwalk had been destroyed, and residents remained under evacuation orders as crews worked to protect the vulnerable coastline. Nine buildings covering 13 addresses had been red-tagged, meaning they were unsafe to enter. Waves pushed seawater into streets and homes, while emergency crews deployed thousands of sandbags, portable pumps, and other protective measures. Although the worst-case storm scenario did not fully materialize, the damage exposed how vulnerable the Peninsula has become to high tides and coastal erosion. One major concern is that ocean levels were running nearly two feet above predictions. El Niño-related ocean warming, Pacific Kelvin waves, and unusually high astronomical tides all contributed to elevated water levels. Long Beach is now accelerating plans to bring in additional sand and launch a major beach replenishment project, but homeowners could face costly repairs or demolition. In this video, we examine the damage to Long Beach’s oceanfront homes, why the waves flooded the Peninsula, how unusually high water levels worsened the threat, and what officials are planning to protect the coast. Global Weather covers natural disasters and extreme weather events as they develop, using sourced reporting and avoiding unsupported speculation. CHAPTERS 00:20 - Rachel Weakens, but Coastal Damage Continues 02:22 - Long Beach’s Vulnerable Seawall Begins to Fail 04:23 - Waves Destroy the Boardwalk and Overtop the Wall 07:22 - Floodwater Enters Homes Across the Peninsula 08:23 - Homes Red-Tagged as Collapse Risks Grow 10:22 - Why the Worst-Case Storm Scenario Was Avoided 13:23 - Why Ocean Levels Are Nearly Two Feet Higher 16:25 - Long Beach Faces Rising Recovery Costs 17:25 - Major Beach Rebui