Ojai residents see property damage, washed out roads from storms
Now that recent rains have passed, people in Ventura County are assessing the damage left behind from the storms.
In Ojai, Blair Whitten is trying to save what he can from his garage after a massive 100-year-old oak tree sliced it in half, then fell onto part of his house.
Most of his belongings were ruined, like his books, his tools and even a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The tree also damaged part of the roof near the bedroom, which is where he and his wife were when the tree came crashing down.
"You hear the cracking, 'What was that?' And all of a sudden it shook the house, it shook the foundation, it shook everything, and then it was over," said Whitten.
Just three miles north of Ojai, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department had to evacuate more people in Matilija Canyon by helicopter after piles of rock and mud damaged the road.
Deputies are staying in touch with people who chose to stay behind, but they are encouraging everyone to evacuate.
