The ocean is getting dangerously close to homes along California’s coast, and some residents are now watching parts of their properties disappear into the water.
In Dana Point, recent storms, powerful waves and high tides have caused severe beach erosion, damaging or destroying several homes along Beach Road. One homeowner, Shalesh Gupta, was away in Hawaii when he checked video footage of his property and discovered that his patio had collapsed into the ocean. The waves had destroyed his seawall, followed by parts of the bedroom and living room.
Other homeowners are now scrambling to protect what remains. Residents say they are paying more than $50,000 per household to help build a rock barrier along the shore, hoping it can slow down the damage before another major surge hits. The emergency barrier is expected to cover 17 properties.
For some families, the financial loss is already enormous. Natalie Driessen, whose home is still standing but remains at risk, said she and a neighbor have spent more than $400,000 trying to protect their properties through seawall work and sandbags. Gupta, meanwhile, said his $250,000 flood insurance coverage would not be enough to replace what he has lost.
The situation has also sparked a larger fight over how California should respond. Residents want stronger protection for their homes, while coastal officials warn that seawalls can provide temporary relief but may worsen erosion and damage public beaches.
Experts say California could face exceptionally high sea levels this winter because of El Niño. For the homeowners watching the shoreline disappear, the question is becoming increasingly urgent: how much of their community can still be saved?