To many locals, it feels like Santa Cruz’s picturesque coast is being battered like never before. Waves from strong winter storms and a pair of tsunamis have caused millions of dollars in damage to the wharf and marina area in recent years. The latest pummeling from the ocean has left many worried about the future of the city’s iconic wharf.
A large section of the century-old wharf detached from the rest of the structure on Monday, sending three people into the sea and casting a bathroom to float miles south. The incident has caused a significant amount of damage and has raised concerns about the structural integrity of the wharf.
Gino Marini, co-owner of Marini’s Candies, which has its flagship store near the wharf, said that this is the first time he can remember anything like this happening. He remembers storms that caused significant damage, but never a collapse of this magnitude.
The city’s wharf remains closed as officials assess the damage and prepare for a second approaching system that is expected to bring high surf, with waves reaching 30 feet in some parts of Northern California. However, meteorologists say that this next storm will not bring swells as strong as those that overwhelmed the wharf on Monday.
The dangerous surf that hit Monterey Bay earlier this week has also been blamed for the death of at least one person who became trapped under debris and left another missing at sea. Both incidents occurred slightly south of Santa Cruz.
The city’s history with seaside calamities dates back to 2011, when a tsunami brought major disruptions to Santa Cruz Harbor, causing an estimated $6 million in damage. The surge from the tsunami coincided with high tide, flooding parts of Santa Cruz that had never taken on water before.
Despite its challenging history, meteorologists say that Santa Cruz is positioned in a geographically advantageous way, facing south into Monterey Bay. This often shelters the coastal city from the worst waves that hit Northern California. However, when storms originate from a different direction, such as Monday’s, the city is more vulnerable to strong waves.
As officials work to assess the damage and determine how to proceed, business owners like Marini are left wondering when the wharf will reopen and what the future holds. For now, the city remains closed, and the people are left to wonder what the next wave will bring.
