Newport Beach declares local emergency ahead of king tides – NBC Los Angeles

Newport Beach declares local emergency ahead of king tides  NBC Los Angeles

Officials urged residents to call 911 in the event of an immediate threat to life or safety. Newport Beach officials declared a local emergency on Tuesday and activated the city's Emergency Operations Center ahead of exceptionally high tides next week that could trigger another round of coastal flooding following widespread damage and street flooding earlier this month. The City Council approved the emergency declaration in preparation for king tides expected Oct. 26-28, with low-lying neighborhoods along the Balboa Peninsula, islands in Newport Harbor and other waterfront areas considered particularly vulnerable, city officials announced Monday. The move comes more than a week after powerful waves and elevated ocean water levels associated with Tropical Storm Rachel flooded streets on the Balboa Peninsula, prompting an earlier local emergency declaration and temporary closures of the Newport and Balboa piers and the Wedge surfing area.

Those areas reopened Oct. 12 as conditions improved, although protective sand berms remained in place and city officials continued to warn of elevated surf and high tides. The latest emergency declaration will help the city obtain additional resources for flood prevention and response, while the Emergency Operations Center will coordinate preparations among city departments, according to officials. City officials warned that recent ocean water levels have been running approximately 18 to 22 inches higher than predicted astronomical tides, raising concerns