Quick Take

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning Friday afternoon for low-lying coastal neighborhoods including Capitola Village and the Rio Del Mar area of Aptos. Large waves could reach homes, flood properties and make roads impassable.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation warnings at 2 p.m. Friday for residents of low-lying coastal areas in Capitola and Aptos. Big surf threatens homes and property there.

The warnings cover three evacuation areas:

  • Capitola Village (Zones CTL-E027-A and CTL-E029-B)
  • Las Olas Drive and Beach Drive (Zone CTL-E048)
  • Pot Belly Beach Road (Zone CTL-E031)
a map with areas in Capitola Village, in and around New Brighton State Beach and oceanfront areas of Rio Del Mar and Seacliff in Aptos highlighted as evacuation warning zones.
Capitola Village (left) was under an evacuation warning Friday afternoon, as was an area stretching along the Monterey Bay shoreline from New Brighton State Beach to Beach Drive in Aptos. Credit: County of Santa Cruz

The sheriff’s office urged people in those areas to think about leaving before conditions get worse. Large waves could flood neighborhoods and make it hard or unsafe to get in and out.

If waves reach homes or damage roads, emergency crews may be delayed or unable to reach people, the sheriff’s office said.

Unlike an evacuation order, which directs residents to leave immediately, an evacuation warning gives people time to prepare and strongly consider leaving before conditions become more dangerous.

These neighborhoods have been in this situation before. In January 2023, the county issued evacuation warnings for the same areas as waves and high tides battered the coast.

Those storms did widespread damage, including to Capitola Wharf and Seacliff State Beach. In unincorporated Santa Cruz County alone, damage to the roads, parks and coastal access areas was estimated at $27.8 million.

Residents should stay away from beaches, rocks, jetties and other exposed areas, check official emergency updates and be ready to leave right away if conditions worsen.

The warning stays in effect until conditions improve.

For updates, check CruzAware and the Santa Cruz County emergency information website.

This is a developing story.

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