Storm drill prepares public works for rainy season

Even though we are in a drought, local agencies are making sure they are prepared for the next big storm.

This week is Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Flood Preparation Week and on Wednesday it put on a storm day disaster simulation.

In this simulation, crews are called out to clear a debris flow, after a small storm pushes built up debris from a nearby burn zone down the Walnut Channel in Moorpark off State Route 118..

“crane picking up trash”

“After a burn if there is rainfall all that debris will collect and it has to go somewhere because there is nothing holding it back anymore. So you don’t have any rooted plants or shrubs to protect the sediment. So you will get a lot of sediment erosion and wooded storm debris that will flow down into these concrete channels,” said Roger Boross with Ventura County Public Works.

The tool getting the most use in this simulation is a powerful 25 ton lattice boom truck crane, as it easily brings up entire couches from the canal.

To stay ahead of the next big storm crews are making sure waterways throughout the county are clear and open.

“We try to make sure that the channels are clean and there are no restrictions and that it alleviates problems down stream,” said Boross.

The Office of Emergency Services will also be keeping an eye on recent burn zones this rainy season, because they have the highest chance of becoming an issue during a rain event.