More Capistrano Beach homes at risk following storm; 10 more red-tagged as residents demand action

CAPISTRANO BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Another home along Capistrano Beach has been lost, as it started to sink into the ocean following last week's storm. Ten more have been declared unsafe.

Capistrano Beach residents are growing increasingly frustrated as ongoing damage continues to impact their coastal community. Area residents Amy and Chris Rogers say their back deck is gone and their kitchen now opens up to the ocean.

"There has not been an ounce of support from any local, county, state federal assistance in any way. No shovels, no dollars, no organization. We're a week into this and we just lost another house last night," they said.

The strong swells from Hurricane Marie have passed, but the destruction in their neighborhood hasn't stopped.

"We've gone through the seven stages of grief in about four days. It still kind of ebbs and flows, a lot of tears for the first several days, a lot of anger at this point knowing that it was very preventable."

The Rogers say coastal regulations have prohibited them from being able to protect their home and sand has rapidly disappeared without enough nourishment projects to bring it back.

The city of Dana Point says 10 homes along Beach Road, including the Rogers', are red-tagged, while seven are yellow-tagged. The city has declared a local emergency.

"More and more homes are going. And people are trying desperately to save their homes, and they're just being thwarted at every turn," the Rogers said.

A California Coastal Commission spokesperson told Eyewitness News that they have approved emergency permit applications, allowing for armoring or placement of boulders across 17 properties.

"When there is an emergency, the coastal commission allows you to send a check for $1,600 by mail for the privilege of an emergency permit, which allows you to protect your home in a very limited fashion that they will approve for 120 days. And at the end of 120 days, you must remove every shred of evidence that you did anything to protect your own home," the Rogers said.

The Coastal Commission notes that armoring can increase erosion and hurt public beaches. The Rogers agree.

"They're right. Which is why we want sand on the beaches. No one wants rock. We want long-term, sustainable solutions."

A spokesperson for Assemblywoman Laurie Davies said she is working to get Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a State of Emergency for this entire coastal region.

The Rogers told Eyewitness News that they're waiting to hear back from insurance, whether they can save any of their home or if they're going to have to tear it down and start over.