Water over your seawall during king tides: what to record

Stay out of floodwater and away from unstable edges

Floodwater can conceal hazards and contamination. Do not walk on the seawall cap, approach softened ground, probe holes, enter the water, block drainage, or attempt improvised stabilization to obtain a better observation. Leaning, sinkholes or soil loss, and rapid change each warrant prompt professional assessment. Stay back from the affected edge.

• City 2026 king tide predictions↗Reviewed October 24, 2026

Describe what you see without diagnosing it

A low or failing seawall can contribute to tidal flooding. Rainfall, drainage and other site conditions can also matter. A raised wall alone cannot prevent all flooding or storm surge.

• Note water appearing over the top, through a visible opening, near a drain, or somewhere else. Record uncertainty as uncertainty.
• Record rain and wind observations, the approximate arrival and recession times, and the location viewed from stable ground.
• Compare with prior observations without returning to an unsafe location. A new crack or ground change is information for a professional, not a DIY repair instruction.

Use a repeatable event log

Keep photographs in your own records, identified by time and a stable reference point. Do not include people or sensitive documents unnecessarily. If you could not see the entry point, say so rather than guessing.

Use this worksheet offline. Scroll sideways on a small screen, or print/save this page with your browser. Blank cells are for your own copy; nothing is entered or sent here.

Compare the log with the City’s current tide information

The City publishes forecast windows and peak times. Those predictions help put an observation in context; they do not promise the water level or flooding at a particular property. Keep current seasonal dates in the tide guide rather than treating an old photograph as a forecast.

Bring a short file to the professional conversation

Combine the event log with prior surveys, permits, repair records and any City notice. Ask what investigation is needed to distinguish wall, drainage and other flood pathways. Keep the observation record separate from an insurance determination or a claim that the wall complies.

Turn observations into planning questions

Use the private self-check to organize observations without submitting them. Our planned paid consulting can help coordinate the paperwork and hiring questions after the appropriate professional assessment; it is not an inspection.