The city of Newport Beach declared a local emergency after ocean water invaded the streets and properties of the Balboa Peninsula community on Friday. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory that will remain in effect through Tuesday. A coastal flood warning expires at 3pm Sunday. City officials said during an afternoon news conference that crews will work through the night and into the weekend to rebuild sand berms as the threat of flooding continues. Crews work Friday night to shore up berms along the Wedge in Newport Beach. CBS LA “Our goal is to shore up as many vulnerable locations as possible before the next high tide,” said Newport Beach City Manager Seimone Jurjis. On Friday afternoon, residents near the water in Newport Beach took precautions. “We’re just going to fortify the entrance to our house and then the back entrance,” Josh Pham said. “Honestly, it was life-threatening,” Gary Winthrop said of the coastal flooding. “We were very afraid that it would enter the house. But fortunately we got sandbags pretty quickly and all the neighbors were very supportive.” “We have some sandbags that we got from the city at the firehouse,” April Witting said. “A friend got more; we’re going to borrow some from him and fill it with sand.” Officials said the emergency response would continue through the weekend, with crews monitoring ocean conditions and deploying additional resources as needed. According to the city, temporary street closures and parking restrictions could be implemented if conditions worsen. “These Kelvin waves are real,” said Newport Beach City Councilman Erik Weigand. “It’s not a wave like you would see with surf, but it is a tidal push, and we project it will be 20 inches larger than what the high tides projected.” Each high tide is expected to be higher than normal, especially on south-facing beaches such as parts of Newport, Long Beach, Dana Point and Laguna Beach. Balboa Peninsula flooding, Newport Beach. CBS LA Flood risks are highest on Sunday, with tides likely 1 to 1 ½ feet above astronomical tide charts, according to NWS. Aerial images over the Balboa Peninsula showed people walking barefoot on sidewalks and streets, some in knee-high rain boots, and vehicles almost half submerged. “Do not drive through flooded streets. Use alternative routes, use caution and follow the instructions of public safety personnel,” the city of Newport Beach wrote in a statement. Newport Beach Fire Department Chief Jeff Boyles advised the community not to drive, walk or bike through water, as some locations along Balboa Boulevard are submerged in nearly 2 feet of water. “We’re prepared and we already know that Sunday morning will probably be a little bit worse with the higher tide and bigger swell expected,” Boyles said. “We are experiencing unprecedented flooding…” By the afternoon, the water had receded, forcing businesses to clean up. Gus Orozco of Balboa Fun Tours was busy cleaning up salt water from beach cruisers. “All the water started rising little by little,” he said. “At 10 o’clock the water was like a lake. The street was flooded, flooded like a lake.” It wasn’t just business owners cleaning; the owners were too. Musician Jennifer Trevor walked through chest-deep water in her garage on West Balboa Boulevard to save her keyboard. “All the stuff in the garage is holding me back, and I’m praying I can get through it and move on,” Trevor said. “I took out the keyboard, but nothing else.” Free sandbags The city is providing free sandbags at its Corporation Yard at 592 Superior Ave. This location will remain open overnight. Newport Beach Police say Peninsula residents can also pick up sandbags at Marina Park. Lifeguards on the Balboa Peninsula also have sandbags available in their vehicles. El Niño Website Orange County today launched a website providing residents with emergency information and resources related to El Niño. The website, ocgov.com/el-nino, serves as a central source of updates on the county’s response to storm-related issues. The site also includes links to local government resources and information on how to prepare for hazardous weather conditions. More from CBS News
