LOS ANGELES — Emergency repairs and cleanup were underway yesterday in California’s wave-battered city of Long Beach, where several homes appeared on the brink of collapse and remained too dangerous to enter.

Tropical Storm Rachel brought less rain than forecasters had predicted but the heavy surf — driven by a confluence of factors including the abnormal storm system, high tide, the impact of El Nino and human-caused climate change — was enough to severely damage some coastal properties.

Dramatic photos and video footage showed homes along the city’s peninsula teetering precariously, while its historic boardwalk was partially swept away

“These kind of impacts are not normal. They’re unprecedented for our community,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson during a weekend press conference.

“This is a sobering reminder of the power of nature,” he added.

Some residents who lived on particularly threatened blocks were issued mandatory evacuation orders through today.

Richardson urged people to take seriously warnings to prepare, including picking up city-provided sandbags, saying “our infrastructure was not built for this.”

“This accelerates all of our urgency to address climate resiliency on our coastline,” he added.

The local leader pointed to warnings that El Nino’s effects will worsen into the winter and are expected to wreak more havoc along California’s coast.

City official Tom Modica detailed a plan at the press conference for immediate and longer-term resiliency strategies, including repair of the damaged boardwalk as well as its failed bulkhead, a vertical retaining structure that’s meant to stabilise waterfront property.