Newport Beach Flood Cleanup

What happened on the Peninsula

On Friday, October 9, 2026, high tides and surf from Tropical Storm Rachel pushed seawater over the sand berms and onto the Balboa Peninsula. City officials said flooding reached 15 to 20 blocks, the tide ran about 20 inches higher than predicted, and water got into homes, garages and businesses. The City of Newport Beach declared a local emergency. Forecasters expect more coastal flooding through the weekend, with Sunday the day of greatest concern and a coastal flood advisory through Tuesday.

Sources: CBS Los Angeles, ABC7. Updated October 9, 2026.

If water came in: do this first

1. Stay safe. Do not walk through water near outlets or plugged-in appliances. If you can reach the breaker panel without standing in water, turn off power to the flooded rooms.
2. Take photos and video of every room, the waterline on the walls and damaged belongings before you move anything. Your insurer will ask for them.
3. Lift what you can off the floor: rugs, electronics, papers. Put furniture legs on blocks or foil.
4. Treat the water as contaminated. Seawater that crossed the street carries sand, oil and storm drain runoff. Wear boots and gloves and keep kids and pets out.
5. Do not use a household vacuum on wet carpet.
6. Call us at (877) 463-5397. We extract the water, set drying equipment and start the moisture log your adjuster or flood insurer will want.

Why seawater needs more than a shop-vac

Salt does not evaporate. Carpet pad and drywall that soaked up seawater stay damp longer because the salt keeps pulling moisture out of the air, and water that came off the street is not clean. In most cases wet carpet pad has to be removed, carpet can sometimes be cleaned and saved, and drywall that wicked water is cut above the waterline so the wall cavity can dry. Mold can start in 24 to 48 hours.

We check every room with moisture meters and tell you what can be saved before anything is removed.

Flood insurance vs. homeowners insurance

Standard homeowners policies usually exclude flooding and storm surge. Damage from rising seawater is normally covered by a separate flood policy, such as one from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), if you have one. Water from a burst pipe or a roof leak is a different kind of claim.

Call your insurer or agent as soon as you can and ask which policy applies. We cannot promise what any policy pays, but we give you photos, daily moisture readings and an itemized invoice that whichever policy applies can use. More on how water damage claims work.

Free sandbags from the City

As of October 9 the City of Newport Beach was handing out free sandbags at the Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Avenue (open overnight), at Marina Park, and at lifeguard headquarters on the Balboa Peninsula. Check the City's website or social media for the latest locations and hours before you go.

Garages, ground floors and businesses

Many of the calls from the Peninsula are flooded garages and ground-floor rooms. We clear standing water, pull out wet pad and damaged drywall when it is needed, and dry the slab and walls. We also work on shops, restaurants and rentals in Balboa Village and along the boardwalk, with an itemized invoice for your business policy.

Same prices as always

We do not add storm surcharges. California law limits price increases after a declared emergency, and our estimate is free and in writing before any work begins.