Two rivers frame Ventura. The Ventura River runs down a narrow, steep-sided valley on the west side of the city, and the Santa Clara River forms its southern boundary before reaching the ocean near the harbor. Both are dry or nearly dry for much of the year, which makes it easy to forget how fast they can rise. Behind the city, the hillside neighborhoods burned in the 2017 Thomas Fire, and heavy rain on slopes that have lost vegetation sends more water and mud downhill than it used to.
Through a free line at (888) 317-9980, open 24/7, The Restoration Job puts callers in touch with independent restoration companies that work in Ventura. We are a referral service, not a contractor: we don't employ crews or send anyone ourselves, and the provider you're connected with handles the work and the estimate directly.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Ventura. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Flash Floods on the Ventura River
The Ventura River's watershed covers about 226 square miles of steep terrain, and its floods tend to rise and fall within hours. Since 1933, major or moderate floods have occurred about once every five years on average. The most damaging on record came in January 1969, when the watershed above Ojai received 43 inches of rain in nine days. Homes flooded in Casitas Springs and Live Oak Acres, roads and bridges across the county were damaged, and the wastewater treatment plant was badly hit and discharged raw sewage. In 1995 floodwaters near the Main Street bridge killed one man and forced the evacuation of 12 others.
For residents on the west side, the lesson is that warning time can be short. Know whether your address is in a mapped flood zone, keep valuables off the floor of garages and lower rooms, and leave when officials say to.
The Santa Clara River, Harbor Boulevard and the Harbor
On the south side, the Santa Clara River usually looks like a wide sandy wash. During the 1969 storms it breached its north bank, flooded a new golf course and Harbor Boulevard, and dumped silt and debris into the recently finished Ventura Harbor. Measured flows at Montalvo have ranged from nothing at all to 165,000 cubic feet per second. Levees protect some urban stretches, but much of the river corridor upstream remains open floodplain.
Neighborhoods in East Ventura and Montalvo sit on the flat alluvial plain that extends toward Oxnard. Here the more common problem is not the river itself but storm drains that back up during intense rain, leaving shallow water in streets, garages and ground-floor rooms.
Hillside Homes Below the Thomas Fire Burn Area
The Thomas Fire swept into Ventura's hillside neighborhoods in December 2017 and burned 504 residences in the city. Rebuilt homes and the houses that survived now sit below slopes that shed water faster than they did before the fire, at least until vegetation fully returns. Mud and runoff can push against back walls, overwhelm yard drains and enter through doors and weep screeds.
After a storm, a quick walk around the property helps: look for mud lines on exterior walls, sediment in drains and damp spots on interior walls facing the slope. Fixing the drainage outside matters as much as drying the room inside. When flood cleanup involves mud and outdoor water, porous materials it touched usually have to be removed rather than dried.
When Storms Push Sewage Into Ventura Homes
Floodwater that has run across streets and yards, and any water that comes up through a floor drain or toilet, should be treated as contaminated. The 1969 flood showed how storms can damage sewer lines and treatment systems, and on a smaller scale, root intrusion or a heavy storm can push sewage back into a home's lowest fixtures. Keep people and pets away, avoid running water in the house, and do not try to wash it down with a hose.
Sewage cleanup generally means removing affected carpet, pad and lower drywall, cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces, and drying the structure before rebuilding. It is one of the few water damage jobs where waiting carries real health risk.
Mold Risk Between Rainy Seasons
Ventura averages about 16 inches of rain a year, nearly all of it from January through March, and onshore breezes keep the air near the coast damp. Water that gets into a wall cavity in a February storm may not be noticed until a musty smell shows up weeks later. Moisture meters and thermal cameras find wet areas that look dry on the surface. If mold has already started, small areas can sometimes be handled by the owner, but larger growth or anything inside walls is better left to a professional.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Communities
Calls come in from across Ventura, including:
- Downtown
- Midtown
- East Ventura
- Montalvo
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Questions From Ventura Property Owners
How fast can the Ventura River flood?
Quickly. The river drains steep terrain, and its floodwaters can rise and fall within a matter of hours. In January 1969 the watershed above Ojai received 43 inches of rain in nine days, producing the most damaging flood on record. If you live near the river on the west side, sign up for county emergency alerts and follow evacuation orders without waiting to see water.
My house survived the Thomas Fire. Is it at more risk of water damage now?
It can be. Burned slopes absorb less rain, so more water and sediment run downhill until plants grow back. Homes below these hillsides may see mud against walls, clogged yard drains and water entering through doors or the base of stucco. Keeping drains clear and directing runoff away from the house before the rainy season reduces the risk.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding from the river or street?
Usually not. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding from rising surface water, which needs a separate flood policy. Sudden internal leaks, like a burst pipe, are treated differently. Read your policy, photograph the damage before cleanup begins, and keep receipts. Your FEMA flood zone, which you can look up by address, affects flood insurance requirements and pricing.
What should I do if sewage backs up into my Ventura home?
Stop using water in the house so you don't add to the backup, keep everyone out of the affected area, and avoid touching contaminated materials without gloves and boots. Call the city if the problem may be in the public sewer main, and a plumber or restoration provider for the cleanup. Wet carpet and drywall that sewage reached are typically removed.