Long Beach declares local emergency as Hurricane Polo threatens already-damaged Peninsula

Long Beach is racing to shore up its coastline and prepare residents for another potentially dangerous round of waves as Hurricane Polo churns in the Pacific, less than two weeks after hurricane-generated swells caused extensive damage along the Peninsula. The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday ratified City Manager Tom Modica’s proclamation of a local emergency, giving the city additional flexibility to hire contractors, move personnel, expedite work and seek assistance from other government agencies as officials prepare for Polo and what they expect could be a difficult El Niño winter. Stream Los Angeles News for free, 24/7, wherever you are. “We have another potential hurricane, Polo, coming this weekend, coming potentially on Monday and Tuesday, which we’re preparing for,” Modica told the council. The declaration comes as parts of the Peninsula remain visibly damaged from swells generated by Hurricane Marie earlier this month. Waves stripped away large amounts of sand, damaged sections of the boardwalk and seawall and prompted evacuations at 19 homes. Crews are still working on emergency repairs, including shoring up walls near homes and attempting to rebuild some of the sand barriers that ordinarily help absorb wave energy. For residents, the prospect of another significant swell arriving before those defenses are fully restored is unsettling.

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