Storm guide · Los Angeles and Orange County coast

Coastal flooding in Long Beach and Newport Beach: what to check now

By the Honest Mold Test Editorial Team · Researched from authoritative sources (incl. EPA and NWS guidance) · Published October 2026

Swell from Hurricane Rachel arrived on top of high tides this week. On the Long Beach Peninsula, waves broke through a 30-foot section of the wooden bulkhead, and water reached homes and side streets near Seaside Walk. The city closed vehicle access at 62nd Place, filled the gap with about 1,000 sandbags, and inspectors tagged five Peninsula buildings as damaged. In Newport Beach, ocean water ran onto streets and into properties on the Balboa Peninsula, including around The Wedge, 51st Street, and 12th to 17th streets, and the city declared a local emergency. Laguna Beach also declared a local emergency.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Los Angeles County and Orange County coast to a Coastal Flood Warning, with damaging seawater flooding likely around Sunday morning's high tide (close to 8 feet) and a larger south swell, especially in Long Beach and Malibu. If water got into your garage or ground floor, this page is for you. You may not need to spend anything on mold. Here is how to tell.

The first 48 hours: what matters

EPA guidance is that wet building materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually do not grow mold. So the job right now is drying, not testing.

1. Get standing water out once it is safe, and open the garage and windows when the weather allows. Fans and a dehumidifier do more than heaters.
2. Rinse off the salt. Seawater leaves salt in drywall, wood and concrete. Salt pulls moisture back out of the air, so surfaces can stay damp after they feel dry. Rinsing hard surfaces with fresh water and drying them helps.
3. Pull what soaked through. Wet cardboard, carpet pad, and the bottom of drywall that stays soft after two days usually come out. Cut drywall a foot or so above the water line.
4. Photograph everything first. Water lines on walls, damaged items, and the street outside. Insurers and any later claims rely on it.
5. Check what sits low. Water heaters, furnaces, washer and dryer, and outlets near the floor. If saltwater reached them, have them checked before you use them.

Do you need a mold test?

Often, no. If you can see mold, EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary: the job is to remove the wet material and fix the moisture. A test earns its cost when you smell mustiness but cannot find the source, when you are buying or selling, or when a landlord or insurer disputes what happened. Our cost guide lays out honest price ranges.

For a small area (EPA uses roughly 10 square feet as the line), most homeowners can handle cleanup themselves with gloves, an N95 and bagging the material. Larger areas, or moisture inside walls, are where a professional makes sense. An inexpensive moisture meter will tell you more than a mold test in the first few weeks.

Insurance: what usually applies

• Most homeowners and renters policies exclude flood, and that includes ocean water from tides and surge. Flood coverage comes from a separate flood policy (NFIP or private).
• If you have flood insurance, report the damage now and keep the photos and receipts for drying equipment and supplies.
• Wind or wave damage to the structure itself can be handled differently from water that flowed in. Read the exact policy language or ask your agent.
• New NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so a policy bought this week will not cover Sunday's tides.
• As of October 10, there is no federal disaster declaration for this event. Watch your city's website for local assistance.

Is it urgent, or can you slow down? An honest triage

Renters: a California note

California law requires landlords to keep rentals habitable (Civil Code 1941.1), and visible mold that affects living conditions is listed as a substandard condition under Health and Safety Code 17920.3. Report water damage to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. See our renters guide.

A note on storm-chasing contractors

After coastal flooding, door-knockers follow. Be wary of anyone who wants a large deposit up front, asks you to sign over insurance payments, pressures you to decide today, or will not give a written estimate. Get more than one quote, and check a contractor's license with the California Contractors State License Board (cslb.ca.gov).

Frequently asked

The water only covered my garage floor. Do I need to do anything?
Probably not much. Bare concrete dries on its own. Check the bottom of any drywall, stored boxes, and anything in contact with the floor.

Will bleach fix it?
Not on drywall or wood. Porous material with mold growth should be removed. Bleach is for hard, non-porous surfaces, and never mixed with ammonia.

Sunday's tide is supposed to be higher. What should I do now?
Move stored items off the garage floor, follow your city's sandbag and parking notices, and photograph the space beforehand so you can document any change.