October and November: the first rains find weak spots
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Laguna Beach station, the nearest coastal record in our research, show about 0.49 inches of rain in October and 1.13 in November. After a dry summer, that first rain finds clogged gutters, cracked sealant and failed flashing. Check the roof edge and window trim before the first storm.
If a ceiling stain appears after that first rain, treat it as active. Put a container under it and call the line so a moisture meter can show how far it has spread.
December to March: San Juan Creek, Salt Creek and the coast
The same station averages 2.78 inches in January and 3.39 in February. Dana Point's draft Safety Element says San Juan Creek poses the greatest flood hazard to the city, with a floodplain 700 to 1,200 feet wide. It adds that the Army Corps finds the channel cannot hold a 100-year storm, and that the creek often breaks through the sand barrier at Doheny State Beach in winter.
Salt Creek runs through the Monarch Beach Golf Links, with a 100-year floodplain about 200 feet wide out to Pacific Coast Highway. If you live near either creek, look up your address on the FEMA flood map, because flood is usually excluded from standard homeowners policies.
Along the shore, FEMA maps a Coastal Flood with Velocity Hazard zone, and the city notes that storm run-up can exceed existing foundation heights. The Safety Element also encourages the Capistrano Bay community and the Niguel Shores HOA to keep sandbags on hand.
After the rain: bluffs, slopes and saturated ground
The Safety Element lists landslide and mudslide potential across Dana Point, with higher susceptibility along the coast north of the Harbor, west of Niguel Road, north of Stonehill Drive, and along Del Obispo Street, Doheny Park Road and Coast Highway. It calls Capistrano Bluffs an ongoing concern.
If you live on a bluff or slope, watch for new wet spots, cracks in retaining walls or doors that suddenly stick. Report them to the dispatcher with the water you can see, and ask your city building department what a repair on a slope needs.
May to September: dry skies, indoor leaks
The Laguna Beach normals fall below 0.25 inches every month from May through September. When a Dana Point ceiling or floor gets wet in summer, the cause is usually inside: an AC condensate line, a water heater, a washer valve or a supply hose. About 55 percent of homes were built before 1980, so older valves and heaters are common suspects.
Who we reach across Dana Point
Around-the-clock dispatch
The emergency line takes Dana Point calls at any hour, with same-day response when available.
Monarch Beach area
Monarch Beach is a neighborhood within ZIP 92629, and the same dispatch line serves it.
Capistrano Beach
Capistrano Beach is a community inside Dana Point, matched to ZIP 92624.
Condos, 2-4 unit buildings and detached homes
About 54 percent of units are detached, and 2-4 unit buildings make up 16.5 percent, so many calls involve shared walls.
Rain at the door or a wet ceiling in Dana Point?
Call (949) 670-0939 and give the dispatcher your cross streets and what the water touched.
Storm water is rising or pipe water is spreading in Dana Point
If water is still spreading in Dana Point
Safety comes before salvage, especially in a storm.
Stop the source you control
Close the main valve on a pipe failure. Storm water you cannot stop, so move to the next steps.
Keep power away from the water
Turn off breakers only if the panel is dry and you do not have to cross water to reach it. Otherwise call 911 or your electric utility.
Go up, not out
Lift items from garage floors and low closets onto upper shelves. On bluff homes, avoid walking the slope while it is wet.
Treat flood and sewer water as contaminated
Water from creeks, street drains and toilets carries dirt and sewage. Keep children and pets out, and do not run a household vacuum on it.
Call the line
Call (949) 670-0939 and describe the depth, source and building type.
Services by Dana Point exposure
Creek, harbor and beach-area flooding belongs with flood damage restoration. Standing water from a pipe or garage drain calls for emergency water removal, and water damage cleanup handles debris, sanitizing and contents afterward.
Water that stays in walls for days may need mold remediation before rebuilding. Neighbors can also see our pages for Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo.
Dana Point facts for your next step
Dana Point incorporated in 1989 and counted 33,107 residents in 2020. The Safety Element names Doheny Village as a liquefaction zone, so ask a plumber to check buried lines after any strong shaking.
South Coast Water District serves Dana Point, and Moulton Niguel Water District also lists it. Which streets belong to which district is not published in what we reviewed, so confirm with your water bill. Capistrano Beach is a ZIP community inside the city, not a separate city.
Dana Point service area map
Laguna Niguel is our home base, and dispatch serves Dana Point from there.
Dana Point storm and leak questions
We cover 92629, the main Dana Point ZIP that includes the Monarch Beach area, and 92624, the Capistrano Beach community. The city's housing element places Capistrano Beach and Doheny Beach inside Dana Point. If your address sits between the two, call and the dispatcher will confirm.
Yes. The 24/7 line takes calls during storms, nights and weekends. Same-day response is offered when available, and we do not promise an arrival time.
Flood is usually excluded from standard homeowners policies and needs separate flood coverage. Sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe is often covered. Check your policy and ask your insurer which category your loss falls into.
Sandbags can slow shallow runoff at doors and garage entries. The city's Safety Element encourages them in the Capistrano Bay community on Beach Road and in Niguel Shores. They do not stop water rising from a drain, so keep valuables off the floor either way.
The Safety Element describes Doheny Village as a liquefaction zone and places it near the San Juan Creek floodplain. Ask your insurer and check the FEMA map for your exact address, because risk varies by parcel.
The EPA window for stopping mold growth is 24 to 48 hours of drying. Coastal homes that stay damp after a storm should be metered, not just aired out.