The city of Newport Beach in Orange County, California, on June 12, told residents to prepare for a series of high king tides expected Saturday through Tuesday.
The city said areas most susceptible to flooding include Newport Island, Balboa Island, Finley Tract, Lido Village, Balboa Village, Lafayette Avenue, and Balboa Peninsula.
In a High Surf Advisory issued last week, Newport Beach officials said that lifeguard operations, including lifeguard towers, patrol units, and rescue vessels, will be fully staffed and in service.
The city warned that evening high tides may cause flooding in harborfront neighborhoods and urged properties adjacent to Newport Harbor to take precautions, such as installing seawall plugs and placing sandbags.
It added that residents can pick up prefilled sandbags at the City Corporation Yard at 592 Superior Avenue or fill sandbags at all Newport Beach Fire Stations.
On the evening of June 9, in the neighboring city of Laguna Beach, a 5-year-old girl was swept into the ocean off Treasure Island Beach, city authorities said.
Officials identified a possible match on June 11 during an early-morning aerial survey of the coastline. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department later identified the dead body as the missing girl. The body was recovered by the Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel approximately 250 to 300 yards off the shore of Christmas Cove, about a quarter mile north of where the girl was first swept away.
On Monday, the National Weather Service issued coastal flood advisories through Wednesday morning for the Los Angeles County coast, especially along Malibu and Long Beach, and the coastline between the San Francisco Peninsula and Big Sur.
On June 10, two Fremont women were found dead on Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County after being swept into the ocean by a rising tide, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to NTD, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times.
The two women, Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were believed to be sleeping when the tide from the neighboring Yellow Bank Beach came in.
“They swept out two sleeping patients,” Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton said. “What we’re also seeing is that people go through the keyhole to get to Yellow Bank Beach, and then they get trapped on Yellow Bank Beach because the tides come in, so it’s an area that’s catching people unaware.”
The following day, the city of Santa Cruz issued a warning for ocean hazards, saying “never turn your back on the ocean,” and “be aware of sneaker waves and changing surf conditions.”
