Newport Beach, other coastal spots hit by flooding: 'We're preparing for more damage'

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Set us as preferred Newport Beach expected intense surf Friday, but the high tide turned out to be much worse than the estimates.Water from a massive swell — double the size that was initially predicted — blasted through 20-foot berms erected at the Wedge and washed out roads from about 21st Street to 6th Street, officials said.

City crews responded quickly to pump out water as residents surveyed the damage.“This is the worst I’ve seen it in my 20 years on the Peninsula,” said Newport Beach City Councilman Joe Stapleton.The city was one of several coastal communities to see flooding Friday as residents braced for Tropical Storm Rachel, which is expected to cause more issues over the weekend.Here is a round up along the coast:Streets on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach were flooded with at least a foot of water during high tides, with the police department advising residents and motorists to avoid the area.

The flooding was remarkable even in a neighborhood that has been prone to regular inundations in the past, particularly during El Niño.Officials are still trying to determine how many homes were damaged.“This swell was very unprecedented coming up that high,” Georgia Rios, a spokesperson for the city of Newport Beach, told The Times.“We knew we were going to have a high swell due to Tropical Storm Rachel, but along with El Niño it really has been a combination force here in Newport.”The city declared a local emergency on Friday and urged residents to pick up sandbags to protect their homes over the weekend.

City crews are pumping out water on the streets, rebuilding beach berms and opening tide valves to help mitigate water intrusion.“This is not even the worst that is expected,” Rios said.“It’s forecast to get even worse on Sunday with rain.”Newport Beach Utilities Director Mark Vukojev...