Officials Knew of Flood Risk at RV Resort : Safety: Early-warning plan was required for project at mouth of Ventura River. But it is unclear if there was any attempt to implement one before vehicles were swept into ocean.

When developer Arnold Hubbard asked for permission to build a recreational vehicle park at the mouth of the Ventura River seven years ago, Ventura city officials openly discussed the danger of a potential flood.

While approving the project, they required Hubbard to have an early-warning plan in place to alert guests if waters rose.

But it was unclear Wednesday whether such a plan was implemented, or whether it would have made any difference.

City officials said they could not find a plan for the system in their records, but the developer said he had met all city requirements.

Whatever the case, when the river jumped its banks about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, the Ventura Beach RV Resort as flooded in minutes, sweeping RVs out to sea and leaving residents scurrying atop anything that was above water. At least one person drowned.

The city will investigate whether a plan was in place at the park, said Community Development Director Everett Millais, but he added that the river swept over the park in just 10 minutes, so “there’s really no early warning that could have (had) any effect.”

Hubbard, who was on the scene warning guests as the water rose, said he received a warning call from authorities but that it came only 30 minutes before the water began to rise dramatically in the park.

Until authorities warned him, he said, he was not in a position to warn guests.

“We got a little warning that the river was rising, but we didn’t know it had flowed out of its banks,” he said. Hubbard said he was able to warn some guests early enough for them to drive to safety, but soon, “the water started rising about an inch a minute.”

Once it reached waist-level, he said, he retreated to higher ground and watched the torrents sweep the RVs into the ocean.

Hubbard blamed local government officials for inadequately maintaining the riverbed.

“There were trees and debris and islands in the river, blocking it,” he said. “The river could have held 10 times the water that came down here without hurting us, if it had been properly maintained.”

Hubbard estimated damage to his property at $1 million. The park clubhouse is covered by insurance, but the rest of the property is not, he said. Hubbard said he did not know if his policy would cover damage to the vehicles of guests.

The Ventura City Council approved plans for the Ventura Beach RV Resort in 1985 on a 4-3 vote, after prolonged wrangling over the project’s size, location, safety and environmental impact.

Dennis Orrock, a Ventura attorney who was mayor in 1985, recalled that one concern was “that there would be adequate warning time (in the event of a flood) to move people and personal property.

“That’s why it was pared back and put on the highest portion of ground,” said Orrock, “and designed in such a matter that you didn’t have raw sewage or pollutants that would be coming off site.”

Orrock noted that in 1979 the Ventura River had overflowed its banks in the same area, forcing temporary closure of the Main Street Bridge and the Ventura Freeway.

Drawing on recommendations from an environmental impact report, the city limited the 20-acre property to 144 RV units, and required a variety of measures to protect surrounding wildlife.

The council also required that “a flood warning system shall be implemented . . . reviewed and approved by the city planner prior to issuance of building permits.”

Building permits were issued, city officials said, and the state Coastal Commission approved the project. The park opened in 1988.

“It turned out to be a well-used, well-received facility in the community, and I think it’s also been an economic boon to the downtown shopping areas,” said Orrock, who voted against the project in 1985.