Approaching Storm Poses Flood Risk, Officials Say : Weather: Forecasters predict that two fronts will collide over the area. The ground is saturated from recent rain.

By MAIA DAVIS

Jan. 5, 1993 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

With the ground already soaked from last week’s downpours, Ventura County officials are warning residents to guard against possible flooding tonight and Wednesday in what may be the area’s worst storm in 10 years.

Moderate rains early today are expected to intensify by tonight as two storm fronts collide over the area, causing a heavy downpour through Wednesday afternoon, forecasters said.

“That’s when our critical period will come in terms of the potential for flooding and mudslides,” said Rick Dittman, a meteorologist with WeatherData, a private weather-forecasting service.

Dittman and other forecasters predicted at least three inches of rain by Thursday, with the Ojai Valley, Fillmore and Santa Paula expected to be among the hardest hit.

Terry Schaeffer, agricultural meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said one of the fronts is a tropical storm that has moved north from Hawaii, which is unusual for this time of year.

“This has the character of some of the storms of the early 1980s” that caused heavy flooding in Ventura County, Schaeffer said.

Throughout the county, the potential for flooding and mudslides is higher because the ground is saturated from recent rains, Schaeffer said. “It’s past being muddy.”

In addition, the runoff will be higher because the rains will melt snow that has accumulated in the mountains, he said.

Dolores Taylor, division engineer for the county’s Flood Control Department, said she is concerned about storm channels and creeks overflowing throughout the county.

“After two additional inches of rain, we could expect some moderate to serious rises in major creeks,” she said.

On Monday, construction crews were hurrying to repair damage that February’s storms wrought on the Arroyo Simi flood control channel, which cuts through Simi Valley and Moorpark, Taylor said.

One crew was working to reinforce part of the channel near the Tierra Rejada landfill in western Simi Valley, she said.

“Everybody wants to try to keep the garbage from getting into the waterway,” she said.

Simi Valley city workers spent Monday cleaning debris from various storm drains that spill into the Arroyo Simi and sandbagging hillsides to prevent silt from running into the streets, Public Works Director Ron Coons said.

“Hopefully, nature will be good to us” and not cause serious damage, he said.

Meanwhile, county fire officials warned homeowners to clean debris from their roofs and driveways and clear gutters and drains.

The Fire Department also issued a list of fire stations in the county where sandbags will be available to property owners facing imminent flooding.

Officials stressed that residents who want to sandbag in advance of potential flooding should get sand from local hardware stores.

Volunteers and staff members at the county’s homeless shelters said they expect larger than usual crowds, as people who normally sleep outside or in their cars seek refuge from the downpour.

An average of 70 to 75 homeless people a night have been sleeping at the National Guard Armory in Oxnard, said Mike Goth, director of emergency services for the Ventura County chapter of the American Red Cross, which helps run the shelter.

But Goth said the number shot up to 95 during last week’s rains, and he expects a similar increase this week.

For Ventura County’s farmers, the rains may slow the harvest of flowers, citrus and strawberries, said Earl McPhail, the county’s agricultural commissioner.

The delay could mean a big financial loss for strawberry farmers who normally earn high profits this time of year by shipping their fruit to Japan and Europe, he said.

But even growers who are hurt by the rains are glad to see the ground-water supplies restored, McPhail said.

“There’s a lot of mixed feelings out there,” he said.

RAIN: Twin fronts expected to pound Southern California. A1

Sandbag Locations

Fire officials have released a list of stations where sandbags are available to control flooding. Ventura fire stations will supply up to 12 sandbags, and sand is available at the Ventura Maintenance Yard at the foot of Chrisman Avenue off Thompson Boulevard. In Oxnard, fire stations will have bags.

Those needing sand or sandbags for emergency situations may pick them up at the following locations. Call 911 for assistance if flooding is severe.

Summit, 12727 Santa Paula-Ojai Road, Santa Paula

Ojai, 1201 Ojai Ave., Ojai

Meiners Oaks, 460 S. La Luna Ave., Ojai

Oak View, 15 Kunkle St., Oak View

Avenue, 5777 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura

Rincon, 5674 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Ventura

Saticoy, 12391 W. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula

Potrero, 830 S. Reino Road, Newbury Park

Arboles, 555 Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks

Oak Park, 855 N. Deerhill Road, Oak Park

Moorpark, 782 Moorpark Ave., Moorpark