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The huge swell that hit Southern California over the holidays produced some of the biggest waves seen at Rincon in decades. However, there was a price to be paid. Due to the damage incurred by the storm, the city of Ventura has declared a local state of emergency, which will remain in effect for 60 days.
An official statement from the City of Ventura on January 10 not only announced the state of emergency, but outlined just how high of a toll the storm had exacted on the city, as the Ventura County Sun reports. According to the release, the Ventura Fire Department had 38 ocean rescue unit responses and 10 ocean rescue calls. In one dramatic instance that was caught on video, a massive wave slammed into the beach viewing area at the end of Seaward Avenue, washing away cars and sending eight people to the hospital.
The storm also wreaked havoc on the city’s infrastructure. According to the city’s emergency alert page, sand and debris cleanup in the Pierpont area and Harbor Boulevard costs approximately $75,000. Meanwhile, street maintenance crews are continuing to fill potholes brought on by the storms. Finally, Ventura’s historic pier was heavily damaged, requiring the site to be closed for several months as it undergoes repairs that are estimated to cost in excess of $1.75 million.
“With recent damages to our iconic and historic pier, Ventura faced repair needs and additional cleanup costs caused by recent high-tide events,” wrote Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder in the January 10 statement. “The declaration of a local state of emergency enables us to seek essential emergency funding, expedite recovery endeavors to swiftly address damage, hasten repairs, and ensure the prompt restoration of our City’s infrastructure.”
