VENTURA : Plan Would Let City Receive Flood Aid

The Ventura City Council is scheduled to adopt a plan tonight that will make the city eligible to receive federal disaster funds to pay for damages incurred during the February floods.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan outlines the extent of damage the city incurred during the storms, as well as proposed measures to prevent or lessen future damage.

Storms on Feb. 12 flooded the Ventura Beach RV Resort on West Main Street and drowned one homeless man living in the nearby river bottom.

About 40 recreational vehicles were damaged or destroyed, and one was washed under the Ventura Freeway and out to sea.

The city is asking for about $700,000 in federal funds for reimbursement of police and fire departments, storm cleanup and emergency repair work to several storm drains and debris basins.

City officials say they won’t know how much money they will receive for at least two years.

The recommendations in the Hazard Mitigation Plan include general suggestions such as better coordination of communication between the city and county, as well as specific measures for the RV park.

An improved public early warning flood system, a better public address system and an evacuation plan are recommended for the RV park.

City Planner Mitch Oshinsky said the city has no authority to require the RV park to do anything but said the owner is “working diligently with the city and county to ensure that these measures are implemented as soon as possible and before the next rainy season.”

Other recommendations in the plan have already been implemented, Oshinsky said.

Most of those are measures that will prevent the recurrence of erosion and flooding.

Drains and pipes have been replaced, and ditches have been repaired, he said.