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The most recent flood occurring in 1969 caused considerable <br />damage in Santa Aha particularly to private properties which <br />backed up to the eroding banks of the Santiago Creek. Of the <br />13 Orange County cities who were recipients of federal aid at <br />the time, Santa Aha received the second highest amount of funds. <br /> <br /> While in 1969, the flood, with its ensuing damage, was con- <br />sidered to be a 25 to 30 year flood (i.e. one likely to occur <br />every 25 to 30 years) a flood of much larger magnitude, as <br />occurred in 1862, could have been devastating. In 1969 the <br />levees of the Santa Aha River channel were not breached and <br />virtually all flood control facilities here were'apparently <br />adequate. The Orange County Flood Control District stated, <br />however, that it was problematical whether these facilities <br />could have handled a flood much larger than that which occurred. <br /> <br />The Need for Hiqher Levels of Protection <br /> <br /> As the potential ramifications of a major flood inundating <br />our urban flood prone area has become manifest, it is now <br />recognizable that a higher level of flood protection must be <br />provided. We cannot be complacent because of the protection <br />afforded us during the 1969 flood. It can be expected that <br />much worse floods will be experienced at some time in the <br />future and long raqge plans for more controls should receive <br />consideration now. Protection against a 25 or 30 year flood <br />is no longer considered a reasonable level of <br /> <br />safety for the increasing numbers of people and · <br />new development in %he City. <br /> <br /> <br />