Capitola businesses take precautions due to high surf

Umbrellas and rain jackets dotted Capitola this weekend, and water rescuers were on high alert as experienced surfers took advantage of the high surf.

“You always want to be mindful of the swell and your comfort level if you’re a novice,” Central Fire Protection District Captain Jason Nee said. “You’re not going to want to be out in the conditions we have today. This is for expert people today.”

On Saturday, Capitola Police closed the wharf and warned businesses and residents to prepare for possible flooding. Zelda’s got right to work.

“Sandbags are obviously the first line of defense,” Zelda’s William Cole said. “But these right here are what we used to protect all of the windows. We’ve got great views here, but the windows are obviously pretty vulnerable.”

Cole said they’re not protecting the windows from waves, but large debris that could shatter them.

“The last time the restaurant actually sustained damage was in the late 80s, I’m pretty sure. But it was bad,” Cole said. “We were closed for two weeks and there was all kinds of debris inside the restaurant, so we were really bracing for something like that.”

And with more stormy weather in the forecast, they’re paying close attention to Mother Nature.