Bulldozers have built giant sand berms to protect beachfront homes in one of the California coastal cities hit hard this week by extraordinary waves generated by powerful swells from Pacific storms. The emergency barriers are being built Friday in the Pierpont area of the city of Ventura, where a rogue wave on Thursday smacked spectators and vehicles as it overran the beach and flowed into a neighborhood. Eight people were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries after the Pierpont incident, and Ventura County authorities have closed beaches, piers and harbors. Similar waves also hit elsewhere on the California coast. The National Weather Service warns that another round of extremely dangerous surf conditions would return Saturday.
