SEAL BEACH : City Plans to Review Flood-Control Systems

Mayor George Brown said there will be a thorough examination of the city’s flood-control systems to prevent the kind of massive flooding that caused about $3 million in damage to Leisure World and drenched businesses and homes in the Old Town area.

Orange County flood-control officials plan to inspect the city’s drainage system on Thursday.

“We want to understand how the system works and see if there are some things that can be done that can improve it,” Brown said. “We’re going to evaluate the whole system.”

More than 300 Leisure World residents--some in wheelchairs--had to be evacuated when the nearby flood-control channel overflowed during the Jan. 4 rainstorm, sending rivers of water into the retirement community.

Damage estimates for the entire city are nearing $5 million, Brown said. But federal officials have been quick to respond to applications for disaster relief funds, he added.

Old Town residents have accused city officials of being slow to react to flooding, which they say occurs every time heavy rain falls.

Residents complained that flood-control pumps did not adequately drain city streets and that city crews failed to erect barricades to slow down vehicles that pushed waves of water into homes and businesses.

But Seal Beach officials said the city’s limited resources were overwhelmed by the record-breaking rains.

Beginning Monday, residents can get help filling out disaster aid applications at Leisure World in Clubhouse 3.