Residents warn each other to be cautious on the roads as rain brings out potholes in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-Potholes are basically holes in the road.

When heavy cars and trucks drive over weak areas the top layer of pavement can caves in causing a new pothole or making an old one worse.

One recent rainy days, the rain water seeps in and breaks the pavement.

Some people call it crocodile cracking.

There are examples on Nopal St. in Santa Barbara near Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Santa Barbara Streets Maintenance Coordinator for the City Bryan Rodriguez has seen his share.

"There's a bunch."

Many cities and even Caltrans have hotlines and apps where drivers and residents can report potholes in need of repair.

"We have been getting a lot of call and now that we have the online app people report potholes everyday we probably get five to ten calls a day," said Rodriguez, " And we do have a crew that is out there everyday filling potholes they get to it it just depends on the day."

Rodriguez recommends residents download the free SB Connect-Santa Barbara app.

Other cities and Caltrans have apps and hotlines to report issues too.

Cars got caught in a pothole by the Ventura Harbor in Ventura on Wednesdays.

Fernando Luna, who drives a Bob Holzer Towing truck, said he has had to tow countless cars damaged by potholes.

"We actually get them out of the pothole, so please drive slow, please, please, please drive safe and take your time," said Luna.

His advice is to slow way down and whenever possible go around.Sunshine Collision Center and Auto Spa owner David Chavez said city workers just repaired some potholes outside his business on Nopal St.

His shop fixes cars damaged by potholes.

"It can damage the suspension it can damage the wheels it can damage a lot of stuff even the engine so if you hit under engine it can have engine problems," said Chavez.

Chavez said not everyone has the kind of insurance that covers pothole damage.