SEAL BEACH – (INT) – This beach community is gaining back its identity.

Surf generated by a series of distant summer hurricanes took its toll, according to Mayor Ellery Deaton.

“We lost ten to 20,000 cubic yards of sand just from Hurricane Marie which is an entire year’s worth of normal erosion.”

Excess sand from the nearby Santa Ana River is being used to make-up for the loss.

It’s also being welcomed by Captain Tripp Hardy at the Naval Weapons Station-Seal Beach.

“Our jetty on the southern side lost about 45 feet. We felt a lot of the brunt of the storm, as well. It was an important project to get the sand back up.”

Much of the beach may have been stolen, but it’s back in place and ready for visitors.

Story Date: October 26, 2014