A 1987 Pacific storm flooded Mission Valley, according to a National Weather Service account, and left more than 500,000 people without power. The event is one of the clearest local records of how a storm can take out both low ground and electric service at the same time.
Key takeaways
- The National Weather Service's account of significant weather events records a 1987 Pacific storm that flooded Mission Valley.
- The same account records that the storm left more than 500,000 people without power.
- A storm that floods low ground and cuts power creates two problems that must be handled in the right order.
- Mission Valley is named in the record, and this guide does not extend the event to other places.
- The record supports planning for power loss as well as for water, especially in ground-floor rooms.
- The details of the storm are in the National Weather Service account, which is the source to check.
What does the National Weather Service account say about 1987?
The National Weather Service's account of significant weather events in Southern California names a 1987 Pacific storm that flooded Mission Valley, and it records that more than 500,000 people lost power. Those are the two facts this guide relies on.
The account is a compilation of the region's significant weather events. Its entry on the 1987 storm is short, and it does not give a full account of the damage in each part of the valley. This guide keeps to what the entry records and does not add to it.
The power outage matters for a water response, because a building without power cannot run pumps, dehumidifiers or a sump. A storm that takes out electricity over a wide area can slow every water response in that area at once.
| Point | Recorded in the account | Not stated in the account |
|---|---|---|
| The storm | A Pacific storm in 1987 | The storm's track and rainfall totals |
| Flooding | Mission Valley flooded | The depth of water in each street or building |
| Power | More than 500,000 people lost power | The restoration timeline for each area |
| Source | National Weather Service compilation | Any insurance or property outcome |
Why is Mission Valley named in the record?
Mission Valley is named in the account because it flooded in the 1987 storm. The entry is the local reference for that flood, and it is the reason the valley appears in this site's flood planning.
The account names Mission Valley as a place that flooded in the 1987 storm, and that is the basis for naming it here. This guide does not describe the valley's drainage, since the sources it relies on do not set that out.
The entry does not say which buildings flooded or how deep the water was. A homeowner or a business in the valley should not assume the depth or extent of the 1987 event, and should ask the local office and the insurer about the risk to a particular property.
What happens when a storm cuts the power?
A power outage during a flood means that pumps, dehumidifiers and electrical equipment cannot be used safely, and that generators must be placed with care. The order of response changes, and the safety step comes first.
Water and electricity together can injure a person before any drying starts. The first question during a storm is whether the water is near outlets, the panel or appliances, and whether the power is still on. If it is, the safe step is to stay out of the water and let the crew guide the next move.
A generator must never run indoors, in a garage or in a basement, because its exhaust can kill. Keep it outside, away from doors and windows, and do not connect it to a building's wiring unless a qualified electrician has set it up for that purpose.
How should a household prepare for a storm that cuts power?
Keep a battery light, a list of key numbers and a way to call for help without mains power. Store the most important items above the floor, and know where the main shut-off and the panel are before the storm.
Charge phones and battery packs before a storm is forecast to arrive, and keep a supply of bottled water if the home depends on a well or a pump. A short written list of contacts is useful when phones run low.
Plan the room you will use if the power is out, and keep the sump or pump in working order if the home has one. A pump that depends on mains power needs a backup plan, and that plan should be checked before the storm.
Make a short written plan for the first hour after the power goes out. Note which breaker serves the lowest room, where the shut-off valve is, which neighbor or relative can be called if phones fail, and where the household will gather if the building must be left. Keep the plan with the emergency contacts, and review it each season so it still matches the building.
What should a building owner do after a storm flood?
Stay out of standing water, keep electrical equipment off until it has been checked, and call the line for water removal. Photograph the damage, and keep a record of what was in each room before anything is moved.
Once the building is safe to enter, the crew reads the moisture in the floors, walls and framing and sets the drying plan. Water that stood in ground-floor rooms can reach the subfloor and the wall cavities, so the readings are taken above the visible line as well.
Keep the scope, the readings and the photographs together. The insurer and any repair trade will ask for the record, and a clear file makes the claim and the rebuild easier to manage.
How does the 1987 record compare with later events?
The sources this site uses record the 1987 storm and the 2023 river rise as separate events. They are different kinds of flooding, one from a storm and one from a river, and each needs its own planning.
A storm flood in low ground is a different hazard from a river rising above its flood stage. The first is fed by rain falling on the land, and the second by water carried down the river channel. Both can reach buildings, but the warning times and the routes differ.
The guide does not connect the two events beyond that comparison. Each is recorded in its own source, and each should be read against that source.
What should I check about my own property?
Check the ground around the building, the drains, the gutters and the lowest room. Ask your insurer what it covers for storm flooding, and ask the local office about any mapped flood risk for the address.
The 1987 record is a reason to look at the lowest room first. Garages, basements and ground-floor rooms are where storm water tends to collect, and a quick check of those rooms can show where a drain or a threshold needs attention.
This guide does not say whether a particular property is in a flood zone or what its insurance covers. Those questions are for the local office and the insurer, and they should be answered in writing.
Walk the outside of the building after a heavy rain and look at where water collects. Note any low spot next to a wall, any gutter that overflows and any downspout that discharges near the foundation. Those observations are useful to the crew, to a grading contractor and to the insurer, because they describe the route the water took before it reached the inside.
What should I ask my insurer after a storm flood?
Ask whether the policy covers storm flooding and surface water, what it requires for proof of loss, and what it expects you to keep. Ask in writing, and keep a copy of every answer with the scope and the readings.
Start with the policy's own words. Find the section on flood, surface water and water damage, and note any exclusions or limits that apply. Then ask the insurer to confirm, in writing, which of those sections it is relying on for your claim. Do not rely on a verbal answer about what is covered.
Ask the insurer what documents it needs and in what form. Photographs with dates, the scope, the readings and any invoice are usually the core of the file. Ask whether it wants to inspect the building before repairs begin, and ask how long it expects that to take. A written reply is the record you will need if the claim is disputed.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Mission Valley flood happen?
The National Weather Service account names a 1987 Pacific storm that flooded Mission Valley. The entry is the source for the event, and it should be read in its own context.
How many people lost power?
The account records that more than 500,000 people lost power in the storm. It does not give a restoration timeline, and the figure is taken from the National Weather Service entry.
How deep was the water in the valley?
The account does not give depth figures for the valley, so this guide does not state any. For the depth on a particular street or building, check the local records and ask the local office.
Can a generator run inside during a storm?
No. A generator must be run outdoors, away from doors and windows, because its exhaust can kill. Do not connect it to a building's wiring without a qualified electrician.
Does the 1987 flood mean my building is in a flood zone?
Not necessarily. The account names Mission Valley as a place that flooded in 1987. Whether a particular building is in a mapped flood zone is a question for the local office and your insurer.
Will my insurer cover a storm flood?
That depends on your policy. Many policies treat storm flooding and surface water differently from other water losses. Read your policy and ask your insurer, and keep your record of the loss in writing.
What should I do first about the insurance claim?
Document the damage with dated photographs, keep the scope and readings, and ask the insurer in writing what it requires. Read your policy's flood and water sections before you agree to any decision on the claim.
Should I photograph the damage before I clean up?
Yes, if it is safe to do so. Photographs of the water line, the damaged items and the rooms as they were found are the first record of the loss. Take them from a dry position and date them, then start the clean-up only after the record is made.
Sources
This guide is general information for San Diego County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.