Storm Season in Encino: December Through March
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Van Nuys Airport, the nearest station in its normals table, put annual rainfall at 13.42 inches. December through March adds up to about 10.99 inches of that, roughly 82 percent by our arithmetic. July averages 0.00. Most roof, window and drainage problems therefore show up in a short window, and a dry summer hides them.
LA County storm guidance says to clear outdoor drains and gutters before a storm and points to a Sandbag Locator for your area. Do both in autumn. If a stain appears on a ceiling after rain, call early, because wet insulation above it keeps soaking drywall for days.
When water is spreading in Encino
In a storm, water can enter through the roof, a window track and a garage door at once. Our line is staffed around the clock, and the call gets answered whether the rain is falling or not.
If Water Is Still Spreading
Storm water and pipe water need different first moves. Here is what to do for either one.
Find where it enters
Look for the entry point: a ceiling stain under the roof, a window track, a door threshold or a wall base. Place a bucket under drips and cover roof damage only if you can do it from the ground.
Close what you control
For a plumbing failure, shut the main valve. For storm water, do not walk into standing water in a garage or yard, because outlets and extension cords may be live.
Keep power off wet circuits
Turn off breakers for wet rooms only from dry ground. Never touch a wet panel. For any sparking or buzzing call the utility or 911 before us.
Save what stays dry
Move furniture, rugs and boxes to a dry room, photograph the damage with a timestamp and keep children and pets away from any water that came from outdoors or a drain, then call.
Storm water or a pipe failure in Encino?
Call the 24/7 line. Describe what is wet and where the water entered, and the dispatcher will sort out the next step.
Sepulveda Dam, the Basin and Flood Maps
In its master plan, the Army Corps counts Encino as one of six neighbors of the Sepulveda Basin. The dam on the Los Angeles River was completed in 1941, works with Hansen and Lopez dams, and the City says the dam can hold over 17,000 acre-feet. Its purpose is flood risk management, and it does not tell you whether your own house sits in a flood zone.
Pull up your address on FEMA's flood map, or on the LA County flood zone site. Most flood policies carry a 30-day waiting period, and homeowners policies commonly exclude flood. If storm water gets into the house, flood damage restoration comes before any rebuild.
Encino, CA Coverage Map
Ventura Boulevard from Lindley to Orion Avenue
The Encino Streetscape Plan covers Ventura Boulevard from Lindley Avenue east to Sherman Oaks and Orion Avenues, in three subareas. The middle one runs from White Oak Avenue to Balboa Boulevard and is also a Business Improvement District. Restaurants, offices and retail along that stretch can share walls and roofs, so a kitchen or an upstairs-tenant leak lands on a neighbor.
Tenants should photograph both sides of a wet wall and notify the landlord in writing. We dry each affected suite and keep a moisture log per unit, so liability questions can be settled with readings. Our crews start with emergency water removal when there is standing water.
Los Encinos and the Older Blocks Around It
Los Encinos State Historic Park, at 16756 Moorpark Street, preserves the de la Osa Adobe, built in 1849. Homes near it vary in age. For any older house with repeated drain backups, tree roots are a familiar cause, and a plumber's camera inspection is how you confirm a sewer line problem.
When a drain backs up, the water is Category 3 and should not be handled with bare hands. Call water damage cleanup for removal and sanitizing, and stay out of the affected rooms until the crew gives the all clear.
Mulholland Hillsides, Permits and Rebuilds
Under the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan, adopted in 1992, hillside projects over 900 square feet go to a Design Review Board, and decks, pools, grading and retaining walls may trigger review. The handout does not say which streets are in Encino, so ask City Planning about your address. After a water loss, a rebuild that goes beyond like-for-like repair could be affected.
LADBS says some water damage repairs under a cost threshold qualify for an Express Permit, which still counts as a permit. Ask LADBS before work starts. Our water mitigation team dries the structure first so the rebuild scope is based on readings.
Encino's Neighbors
West of Lindley Avenue the Encino-Tarzana plan area becomes Tarzana, and farther north, beyond Reseda, lies Northridge, both with their own local notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is emergency water removal available in Encino?
Yes. Storm or no storm, a person answers after dark, on Sundays and on holidays. Same-day response when available. Crews bring extraction units and drying equipment.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Encino?
Yes: 91316 and 91436, the two standard ZIPs with Encino as the preferred city name. Whichever one is on your mail, we cover Encino from the Ventura strip and the blocks near Los Encinos State Historic Park on Moorpark Street to the Sepulveda Basin edge and the Mulholland hillsides.
Does living near Sepulveda Basin mean I need flood insurance?
Not automatically. Look up your address with FEMA's flood map search and ask your agent. Flood is commonly excluded from standard homeowners policies, and flood policies often carry a waiting period.
Who do I call for a broken water main in Encino?
LADWP runs a 24/7 line for water emergencies, listed on its customer service page. Inside the house, shut your own main valve and call us for extraction and drying.
Water still spreading? Call the 24/7 line at (818) 337-2642.