Because of the upcoming El Niño, we are putting mitigation measures in place now in order to ensure the protection of our coastline. I signed a letter calling for a declaration of a state of emergency in advance of the year ahead, which has now been put in place by the Governor.

Over the last three weeks alone, our shores have been affected by a succession of major weather events, including king tides and hurricanes. Our Municipal Operations Department has been working continuously, putting in long hours over days and weekends. Using heavy equipment, our crews have completely rebuilt the Balboa sand berm, while also constructing smaller protective berms at multiple locations along the beachfront, including Corona del Mar Beach and The Wedge. In partnership with the County, the City’s contractor will move beach-quality material from the mouth of the Santa Ana River and distribute that material along the beaches in the groin area via dump trucks. This work is typically performed every year or two and is being expedited for early completion.

While our city crews remain focused on defending our public shoreline, we also want to provide residents the resources necessary to secure your personal property. Free sandbags are available for resident pickup at the Municipal Operations Yard, located at 592 Superior Avenue.

We invite the public to join us for a comprehensive discussion about sand, harbor, and coastline management at our study session on October 13th, at 4:00 pm, in Council Chambers.

Bring the whole family for an afternoon with your Newport Beach firefighters, lifeguards, CERT volunteers, and community partners. Come explore the fire station, see emergency apparatus up close, meet the people who serve our community, enjoy demonstrations and activities, and learn more about fire safety.

Sunday, October 4, 2026 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Fire Station 7, 20401 SW Acacia St. Free admission and parking.