City to Probe Slow Response to Flooding

Responding to complaints from residents whose street was flooded in last week’s storm, the City Council has directed its staff to investigate why workers were slow to respond to calls and to meet with those affected.

About 20 residents of Mardigras Court near City Hall told the council Wednesday night that the city’s emergency response crews did nothing while 4 1/2 feet of water rushed down their street and damaged eight of 14 homes.

“The city has let us down, and since the incident we have not seen a city official on our street to even talk to us and that’s pretty poor,” said Doug Carroll

Ellen Onken said that because city crews would not assist her, she had to have her three small children help bail water out of her home for four hours.

“We don’t even have a place to stay tonight now,” said Onken, near tears.

City officials said they understood the residents’ frustration, but explained that city crews could not be in all parts of the city at one time.

“Other than to keep the drain clear, there wasn’t much the city [crews] felt they could do,” said Robert Westdyke, director of public services.

Last Friday’s flash flood resulted in more than $1 million in damage throughout Camarillo. Overall, about 40 homes were damaged, 18 stranded people had to be rescued from their cars and dozens more were rescued from an inundated mobile home park.

In preparation for this weekend’s storm, Westdyke said, city crews are sweeping silt out of the streets and cleaning catch basins.

City engineers have also examined areas that had serious flooding last week and are working to devise ways to prevent more flooding in residential neighborhoods. They plan to bring a list of capital projects to the City Council that would help prevent such problems.