Shell Beach Residents Worry About Flooding as Winter Storms Approach

Strong winds and rain struck Shell Beach on Friday afternoon as storm season arrived, leaving some neighborhood residents worried that local infrastructure is not ready for the months ahead.

Megan West said she prepared for what she calls a normal part of living in the area.

“When it rains, it rains hard here. The biggest issue that we have is our drainage, where the water goes.”

Most of the streets in Shell Beach are sloped and lead to the ocean. However, Brian McQuade said that on flat streets near Santa Fe Avenue, water tends to pool year-round.

“People have been living with it for a long time, but they’re flat and they’re not properly drained. It’s hard to move the water if you don’t go real deep and slope it to the ocean. So that’s what happens, it sits there.”

McQuade said that if water manages to reach a drain, some debris buildup during heavy rain is almost unavoidable.

“You clean them up as best you can now, but during the storm you’re going to get more stuff flowing down and covering them.”

Downtown Pismo Beach, Pismo Heights, and Shell Beach are scheduled to receive drainage improvements from the City of Pismo Beach during its 2027 Paving and Drainage Project.

Expressing concern for the Shell Beach community, West shared her worries regarding the forecasted unprecedented El Niño for this year.

Shell Beach residents worry about flooding as winter storms approach — KSBY News

“I’m sad to hear that because I wish we had done this earlier, I really do. We’re going to have — we’re going to lose a lot. We’re going to lose a lot.”

McQuade said with rain already here, waiting until things dry out before starting the work makes sense.

“There’s not enough time now. Those are big projects and it’s already started, the weather. So best to wait and see what it does to us now and how to fix it.”

Residents are advised by city leaders to register for ALERTSLO and contact the non-emergency phone number 805-773-2208 to report storm-related problems or blockages in the interim. Additional details on city preparations and sandbag availability can also be found on the official Pismo Beach website.