This gallery is a documentary collection of photographs showing some of the flooding and damage to our little community of Foster Park, during Southern California's torrential rainfall accumulation, from January 8th to 10th, 2005. Foster Park is located between Ventura and Ojai California along Highway 33 and nestled between Red Mountain and the Ventura River. A rural community of beautiful hillsides, lush vegetation, and oak forests, Foster Park received over 9 inches of rain over the 3 day period, much of it coming during the evening and night of Sunday the 9th. As can be seen here, runoff from the hillsides blocked our exit roads with tons of mud, rock and forest debris. Coyote Creek, which runs behind many of our homes rose from a normal gentle trickle of a foot or 2 deep and a few feet wide to 6-8 feet deep and dozens of yards wide. Tragically several homes here were severely damaged by flood waters and mud. A Ventura County Sherrif's rescue helicopter could be seen overhead, much of the day on Monday 1/10/05, and at one time dropped down a rescue team deputy to talk with us and make sure everyone was okay, as we had no way out. During our conversation with the deputy, he received a call from the helicopter that he needed to be picked up immediately, as they were being dispatched to La Conchita, a few miles from here, due to the massive mudslide and possible loss of life. That night, fearing a potential additional rainfall prediction of 3-6 inches, at around 11:00 pm many of us were evacuated by the Ventura County Sherrif's Rescue Team in their tank-like "track vehicle", a "wild and crazy" ride for sure!!!. By midday Wednesday, road crews had managed to open a single lane along Casitas Vista Road, giving us an entrance and exit road, although a VERY muddy and wet one!
**Photos of the Coyote Creek Recovery Project begin on page 4 of this gallery.**

*TIP: When viewing photos try pushing the F11 key on your keyboard. This may increase the viewing area on your monitor. Push F11 again to return to regular format.