Ten Capistrano Beach homes have been declared unsafe, seven others sustained structural damage and one house has been lost as officials seek additional state and federal resources.
Orange County has declared a local emergency after powerful swells generated by Hurricane Marie caused severe erosion, damaged coastal homes and battered public infrastructure.
The countywide declaration, issued Thursday, strengthens Orange County’s ability to seek additional state and federal assistance while damage assessments and emergency protection work continue.
Dana Point, Laguna Beach and San Clemente had already issued local emergency declarations following the destructive surf.
Homes damaged along Capistrano Beach
Some of the most serious damage occurred in Dana Point’s private Capistrano Bay community, also known as Beach Road.
The City of Dana Point said it was first contacted Aug. 28 after a residential deck was destroyed and waves undermined the home’s slab foundation. The property was declared unsafe.
As the erosion continued, the number of damaged properties increased. Ten homes have now been red-tagged, meaning they are unsafe to occupy, while seven others have received yellow tags indicating structural damage or restricted access, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Another oceanfront house was lost after it began sinking toward the water. Other residents have reported destroyed decks, damaged walls and portions of their homes left exposed to the ocean, according to ABC7.
The affected neighborhood presents an unusually complicated response because multiple agencies have jurisdiction. Beach Road lies within Dana Point, the surrounding public beaches are maintained by Orange County and the beach area seaward of the residential properties falls under state jurisdiction.
Emergency declaration expands the response
Orange County’s declaration recognizes that the damage extends beyond individual properties and requires a coordinated regional response.
The action can support requests for emergency funding, technical assistance and additional resources for damaged beaches, coastal infrastructure and threatened homes.
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley has also called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue a state emergency declaration and accelerate sand replenishment and shoreline-protection work.
Those efforts could become increasingly important as officials evaluate beaches that lost significant amounts of sand during the storm. Without restoration or temporary protection, already weakened sections of the coastline could be more vulnerable to additional high surf and winter storms.
Hurricane remained offshore but sent destructive surf
Hurricane Marie did not make landfall in Orange County, but the storm generated powerful swells that reached Southern California.
Waves estimated at approximately 8 to 10 feet caused severe erosion, coastal flooding and property damage. In some areas, the receding water carved steep drop-offs into beaches and exposed buried asphalt, pipes and remnants of older coastal infrastructure.
Damage was also reported elsewhere along the Southern California coast, including Long Beach, where flooding affected homes and a section of the historic boardwalk.
Coastal researchers have warned that the destruction could offer an early indication of the risks facing Southern California during the approaching winter. A strengthening El Niño pattern could produce additional storms and coastal flooding while beaches are still recovering from Hurricane Marie’s swells, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Assessments and protection work continue
Local agencies are continuing to inspect damaged homes, public beaches, seawalls and infrastructure while residents work to protect exposed properties.
Dana Point residents in the Capistrano Bay area may request a home safety inspection by calling the city’s building division at 949-248-3564.
The full financial cost remains unknown. County officials must now document the damage, identify immediate hazards and determine which shoreline-protection projects can be completed before the winter storm season.
For residents along Orange County’s coastline, the emergency declaration marks the beginning of what could become a lengthy recovery—and a renewed debate over how communities protect homes, beaches and public infrastructure from increasingly destructive coastal conditions.
