Learn From the Past, Prepare for the Future

By BETTY HARTIG For Morro Bay Life

Avilones live in an area where wildlife abounds, woodlands provide ideal animal and bird habitats, and the sea offers beautiful vistas and areas for children to play and frolic. Families can enjoy healthy outdoor endeavors without a prohibiting fee. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, biking, and walking, are all activities that can be enjoyed within our community.

For a period, these opportunities were curtailed because of wet weather conditions followed by a storms aftermath. The popular Bob Jones Trail was closed for nearly a month due to extensive damage and safety issues. The trail’s appearance was altered, trees toppled, large branches fractured, shrubs were uprooted, pathway shoulders narrowed, and asphalt was uplifted in areas or eroded. San Luis Obispo Creek widened and roared like a river cutting away its banks; consequently the trail’s borders are now redefined. All these situations stemmed from copious rain that created unbelievable flooding.

At times nature can be unpredictable. You may have noticed tsunami zone signs that were recently placed in various locations on Avila Beach Drive. A little over a year ago, January of 2022 Avila Beach, as well as other central coast locations had a firsthand experience with tide changes caused by a tsunami. Fortunately, the California coast had minimal effects.

The tsunami was caused by an undersea volcano eruption at the South Pacific nation of Tonga. Alerts and advisory reports flooded the media. For most of the coastal population the event caused very few alterations with daily plans. Beach precautions were sent because of higher-than-normal ocean waves. People were urged to stay out of the water owing to powerful currents. Ocean water surge was of particular concern. In Avila, tides were high and reversed the directional flow of San Luis Obispo Creek. It was an amazing sight to see waves rapidly traveling under the estuary bridge and continuing over Marre Weir in the opposite direction, far from normalcy. Waterfowl floating on the creek seemed puzzled by this event and quickly flew out of the water.

Earthquakes and tsunamis can occur at any time, sometimes with extraordinarily little notice. These types of actions can cause considerable damage, especially when an epicenter is in proximity. Make sure your evacuation plans and emergency supply kits are on hand. Keep them ready, replenished, and in a convenient location. Recent events created a time to reflect on what you need for these potential situations.

Flooding has occurred in San Luis Obispo County numerous times. Flood history goes back into the mid nineteen hundreds. Avila Beach is not immune to rainfall disruption. Those years of excessive rains are well documented, and many residents can tell a tale or two about firsthand experiences. Vintage black and white photos of damaged piers in Avila Beach reveal the strength and unpredictability of water action caused by aggressive storms.

January 2023 floods swept cars away on Avila Beach Drive, sadly took a life, closed businesses, and caused disruption for commuters leaving or trying to arrive to their homes or places of employment. Avila residents were without power for approximately 41 hours, many of those residents nervously watched creek water rising forming lakes and intruding on their property. Local businesses

HEALTH & WELLNESS and residential areas dealt with significant water and mud damage.

Avila’s beloved Bob Jones Pathway and other recreational areas, as well as homes and businesses have been cleaned up, bandaged, and returned to normalcy. But the pattern and possibility of nature creating havoc remains. Surprises and destructiveness cannot be controlled. However, we can be warned, learn from the past, and be better prepared.

Nature is defined as the phenomena of the physical world collectively, all animals, plants, and other things that are not made by humans, which includes events and processes that are not caused by people. It is increasingly important for individuals to not only respect Mother earth, but to strive to keep it in tip-top shape for future generations to enjoy. Let us not add to potential problems, but instead strive to practice responsible decision-making processes in all facets of life. Ongoing vitality of our quaint sea-side community depends on us. Leaders, planners, and developers please take note for the good of the whole, including wildlife regarding unpredictable events of nature.