Good Neighbor Newport is urging an independent review of Newport Beach’s emergency preparations and response following the July 4 disturbances and coastal flooding during the Oct. 9–11 weekend.

In an Oct. 27 guest column published by Stu News Newport, the volunteer civic group praised city employees and first responders while questioning whether earlier coordination and additional preventive measures could have reduced the impact of both events.

"The question is not simply how well the city responded," the group wrote. "It is whether more could have been done beforehand."

Good Neighbor Newport's 12-member roster includes Dennis Baker, Keith Curry, Susan De Santis, Nancy Gardner, Laird Hayes, Charles Klobe, Jennifer McDonald, Steven Rosansky, Nancy Scarbrough, Chace Warmington, Paul Watkins and Jean Watt, listed in memoriam.

Two crises, one argument

The column points to two events. On July 4, a social-media-fueled crowd surge on the Balboa Peninsula led to 402 arrests, fireworks thrown at officers and the ransacking of a Pavilions supermarket on West Balboa Boulevard, according to Patch. Police called it a "TikTok takeover." More than 350 officers from 17 agencies responded after an unlawful assembly was declared.

The column’s second example was the Oct. 9–11 coastal flooding. The city declared a local emergency Oct. 9, attributing the flooding to Tropical Storm Rachel. A separate emergency declaration followed Oct. 19 ahead of king tides expected Oct. 26–28. The city subsequently reported a record-breaking high tide of 8.4 feet on Oct. 27.

Good Neighbor Newport acknowledged that city crews reinforced sand berms and took other protective steps. But the group argued that reports about the potential effects of a Kelvin wave, high tides and powerful surf were circulating before the flooding hit.

"These warnings do not mean the flooding could have been prevented, but they raise a reasonable question: Could additional preparations have reduced its impact?" the column stated.

Council already rejected a committee

A related proposal had already reached the City Council. On Sept. 8, councilmembers voted 4-3 against creating an Ad Hoc Public Safety Committee. Robyn Grant, Joe Stapleton and Michelle Barto supported forming the committee; Lauren Kleiman, Erik Weigand, Noah Blom and Sara Weber opposed it.

The Orange County Register reported that City Manager Seimone Jurjis said on July 6 that officials would review their response, messaging and the impact of social media influencers.

"We need to assess what is working, what doesn't work, and how do we continue to improve as we go forward," Jurjis said, according to the Register.

Broader risks cited

Good Neighbor Newport framed the issue as citywide, not limited to the peninsula. The column cited wildfires, earthquakes and emergencies requiring rapid evacuation as threats that could strike anywhere in Newport Beach. It pointed to the Palisades fire as an example of how quickly an emergency can overwhelm evacuation routes.

Residents can sign up for city emergency alerts through Newport Notified at NBPD.org. Free sandbags remain available at the City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave., while supplies last.