California High Surf Caused $20M In Damage
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Authorities say last month's high surf caused about $20 million in damage to a breakwater at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday the money is needed to make emergency repairs to breaches and near-breaches damaged by the impact of Hurricane Marie.
The estimate covers repairs for 11 areas of major damage on the middle seawall that protects the nation's largest port complex. The major damage areas cover about 1,500 feet.
There's a lot of other damage to that breakwater and two others but the full cost is still being tabulated.
Fifteen-foot swells caused by a Mexican hurricane shut down two cargo terminals for a day and caused other damage along the Los Angeles County coast.
"The structural integrity of the breakwaters has been compromised, especially at the middle breakwater," read a statement from the corps.
Officials said they are looking into funding options and noted risk of damage would be heightened until repairs are made.
"As with all these types of structures, once they start to come apart they are very susceptible to greater damage following any additional significant wave event," the statement continued in part. "Breaches of the breakwater will allow greater transmission of wave energy into the inner portions of the harbor."
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