Aptos Beach Drive residents look to stay ahead of any potential flooding

Aptos residents on Beach Drive are preparing for potential flooding ahead of any storms on the Central Coast this Winter.

It’s something they’re used to doing as the area is prone to flood conditions. If it’s big enough it even stretches beyond Beach Drive and into neighboring streets.

“The storm surge is unpredictable,” says Aptos resident Jonathan Ziegler. “Sneaker waves, especially. Even where we’re standing now you can see the debris come up and about as far as the staircase.”

Ziegler says he’s lived in Aptos for more than 20 years and has seen his fair share of flooding in the area.

He pointed to the sandbags and wall-planks that act like barriers to keep out debris and–ideally–any floodwaters attempting to breach people’s property.

“We’ve been here during the all the bad weather because we walk the dogs, rain or shine,” Ziegler explains. “I’ve seen water come over the railings and sand come through. You see the piles of sand up against the wall but it’s gone the next day because the waves from the storm have ripped it out.”

Residents on Beach Drive say they had to adapt to how flooded the area can be in the biggest storms.

It was in February of 2017 when one particular storm was so bad it flooded Beach Drive and stretched to other neighboring streets.

“It’s a beautiful place to live, still,” Ziegler says. “The only thing I’d say is to never turn your back on the ocean. Mother nature is not something to be trifled with.”