Santa Cruz Harbor rocked by high swells, capsizing boats, leaving debris

After avoiding a tsunami warning weeks ago, Santa Cruz Harbor was faced with high surf…this time bringing destruction.

Monday around 1 p.m., dangerous waves started making their way through the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Boats damaged from the swells and docks destroyed.

"Just massive waves coming up to the back of the harbor and slamming against the back wall and coming back out and lifting the docks up and just ripping everything apart," Santa Cruz local Louis Parachi said.

The Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol got to work ensuring the safety of the area. Harbor Staff says seven boats capsized.

The Harbor Patrol says they've been running around with their dredge crews and maintenance boats …. Assessing the situation and cleaning up debris.

These were the same swells that took out some of the Santa Cruz Wharf the other day.

While some made it out fine...

“I guess we’re one of the lucky ones. We got a big gouge in the side of our boat but it’s fixable," Parachi said.

Others lost a home like one boat owner I spoke with at the harbor.

The Harbor Patrol has the launch ramp closed off with docks closed until further notice.

Santa Cruz County continues to hold on as Mother Nature continues to put them in the crosshairs.

"It’s Mother Nature. It takes its course. We had a tornado last week and then this ethos week. Things are changing," Parachi said.

Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol also told me that at this point they are taking the relief efforts day by day.