Laguna Beach has declared a local emergency after powerful swells from Hurricane Marie caused significant coastal erosion, damaged seawalls and threatened oceanfront homes, with city officials warning that an unusually strong El Niño could bring additional damage in the months ahead.
City Manager Dave Kiff, acting as the city’s director of emergency services, issued the proclamation Wednesday in response to ongoing erosion and sand loss that began when swells reached the Southern California coast Sept. 2.
Six oceanfront homes have been yellow-tagged because of compromised seawalls, including two homes on Ocean Way and four on Lagunita Drive, according to the city.
The erosion has also caused a partial failure of the Aliso Beach parking lot and prompted temporary closures at the south end of Lagunita Beach, Pearl Street Beach, a footpath at Christmas Cove and portions of the Aliso Beach parking lot…