Evacuation warnings and advisories have been issued as a powerful winter storm begins to inundate Ventura County. A Flood Watch is currently in effect for the area until Thursday evening, and residents are preparing for significantly heavier rainfall than initially predicted.
Ventura resident Loren Allen expressed concern about his property, stating, “I got a house that around the garage… it might get pretty bad. If it rains really hard, it gets flooded out. I’m trying to take all precautions.” Like many others, he is taking preventive measures to protect his home.
Rachel Montejano, who was seen packing sandbags with her family, shared her worries about her mother’s flooding-prone property. “I hear it’s going to be really bad, but it doesn’t look so bad right now. Like drizzle. It can get worse, but I’m not worried about it. I don’t think it’s going to be that bad. Hopefully. But my mom’s worried about it, so I’ve got to take care of my mom,” she said.
At the Ventura Beach RV Resort, preparations are in full swing. Manager Kiley mentioned that while they have sandbags ready, his primary concern is not the water itself but the mud that follows heavy rains. “The mud does all the damage. Last time that we flooded out, we were three months digging out of the mud. The store that you’re standing in right now was within two feet of mud throughout the store; the park had two feet of mud throughout the entire park,” Kiley explained.
In response to the impending storm, the Ventura County Fire Department has bolstered its workforce with an additional 50 firefighters, bracing for the worst. Spokesperson Andrew Dowd advised residents, “We anticipate the storm to hit overnight — hours 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. So residents in flood-prone areas, have a plan. Know what you’re going to do when an evacuation order is given. Anticipate that it could happen when the power is out or when it’s dark outside.”
Additionally, fire officials are urging residents to register for alerts at vcalert.org, which will keep them informed about potential evacuations. As Ventura County faces this storm, community preparedness remains critical for the safety and well-being of all residents.