La Conchita Locals Urged to Prepare for El Niño
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – People driving by La Conchita may see it as a coastal town with an ocean view, but it is also a town with a long history of landslides following above average rain.
Russ Brazelton is a survivor of both the 1995 slide and the deadly slide in 2005.
He lost loved ones and for financial reasons chose to stay, but he is not likely to take any chances.
"I literally have run from the last two landslides, I lost my father-in-law and every one of those people that died in the last one. The person I knew the least amount of time, I knew 25 years, I have not recovered emotionally from all that." said Brazelton.
He considers being prepared common sense.
"The best preparedness for here is leaving town at the right time."
He watches for runoff.
"The water is going down the street and turns from clear to mud – it is time to leave."
Forecasters recorded near record rainfall before the landslide on March 4, 1995 and in the two weeks before the January 10, 2005 landslide when 10 people died, including Michelle Wallet and three of her four daughters; Hannah, Raven and Paloma.
The others killed ranged in age 28-56 and include Tony Alvis, Vanessa Bryson, Christina Kennedy, John Moragan, Patrick Rodreick, Charley Womak.
Resident Pedro Zaragoza said he stays ready.
"Ive got pretty much everything in my car, medical, clothes food, just in case something happens," said Zaragoza.
There are still homes with warning signs and damaged homes visible along Vista Del Rincon.
Some homes are for sale, but it is not clear if there will be any interest during an El Niño winter.
Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere's First District includes La Conchita.
"We know the unique risks in La Conchita, we know its tragic history." said LaVere.
He said the residents he has met are engaged and aware.
"I would say have an evacuation plan when there is a major storm, stay alert during and after the storm and really if the county issues evacuation warnings or orders please take them seriously," said LaVere.
There are areas that were not in the slide and areas fenced off that appear compromised.
"Certain properties are red tagged, which means that people can't live there, but that doesn't place a duty to remove a structure, it just says that nobody can live in there," said Lavere.
He knows long-time residents don't want to leave.
"I get the desire to live there, for those who choose to call it home it's just really important that they stay alert and they stay prepared," said LaVere.
A lawsuit trying to blame ranchers above failed and visits from then Gov. Schwarzenegger never led to any major preventative measures.
That's why officials want residents to sign up for alerts and have a plan.
"The forecast is for a strong El Niño season what that tells Public Works is we've got to prepare, we prepare every year and do that well, what are we doing this year is trying to find ways to make our infrastructure more resilient," said Ventura County Public Works Director Gregg Stakaluse.
"Don't wait, don't wait until it is too late to evacuate, if there's been rain and the situation appears unsafe don't wait for us to tell you to leave, we want resident to be empowered to monitor the conditions of that hillside and if they become unsafe leave," said Office of Emergency Services Director Patrick Maynard.
Locals recalls a different outcomes when it came to lawsuits.
A lawsuit filed by property owners against the La Conchita Ranch Company following the 1995 slide did not go their way.
Judge Henry J. Walsh ruled in 1999 that the orchard did not cause the slide.
But another lawsuit following the deadly 2005 slide found fault with the drainage from the ranch.
Family members of the victims received $5 million dollars and the rights to the 700 acre ranch.
History could repeat itself and if and when it does they want people to get out in time.
"We are doing out best to monitor that hillside," said Maynard.
"It is a nice place to live. Uh, it's getting a little bit more nerve-wracking. Glacier melting, oceans, rising, these El Niños, something to think about for sure. It's serious. " said Brazelton.
Residents may sign up for VC Alerts at https://readyventuracounty.gov
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