CALIFORNIA — City Manager Lorie Tinfow, in her role as Director of Emergency Services, declared a state of local emergency in the City of Pacifica today. “El Nino is hitting the City’s coastline very hard and creating almost daily reports of impacts to both public and private property,” Tinfow said.
“We need State and Federal assistance to respond to the growing list of failing public infrastructure including the Beach Blvd. sea wall failure.” Since December 15, 2015, the City has seen damage to the Pacifica Pier, the Milagra Watershed Outfall and, perhaps most dramatic, the failure of the sea wall along Beach Blvd. near the intersection of Santa Maria Avenue.
WATCH: Pacifica Coastal Erosion Caught on Drone Video
Funding for repairs to all three structures remains to be determined. Private properties located on Esplanade Avenue and Palmetto Avenue have also been affected. The owners of two properties were notified in the past 10 days that their structures were not safe to inhabit. Other areas along the cliff are experiencing significant loss of bluff top as well. Previously the apartment buildings at 330 and 320 Esplanade were deemed uninhabitable and the City has been working with the property owners to demolish them.
There used to be a backyard here in #Pacifica ? Larger swells in the forecast for Friday pic.twitter.com/RFxVWFfaOh
— Dean C. Smith (@DeanCSmith) January 27, 2016
The structural integrity of 310 Esplanade is being closely monitored for the safety of the current residents. The City is watching closely the status of the facilities along the coast edge as a precursor to protecting its roadways. “Our investment in City streets and public utilities is also at risk as the erosion undermines the existing structures.” Tinfow said. “We hope all property owners along the City’s coastline are aware of how fluid the weather situation is and take appropriate precautions.” The City Council will be asked to confirm the existence of a local emergency at its meeting on Monday, January 25, 2016.
