The strong stench of wet carpet blanketed the air inside Lily McClintock's one-bedroom trailer as she tried to walk through what was once her living room. Books thrown from a cracked bookcase were scattered on 3 inches of mud.

"It's a total loss," McClintock said as she looked at her empty, muddy bedroom. "But I haven't cried yet."

McClintock was among about 30 residents along Canada Larga Road who have been trapped since Sunday because of a huge mudslide that enveloped the area. According to residents, the heavy downpour Sunday and Monday caused Canada Larga Creek to overflow, creating a river of mud.

Canada Larga Road, just north of Ventura off Highway 33, was blocked off Monday as residents took their own tractors to drive through the ankle-deep mud.

The overflow from the creek combined with the heavy two-day downpour created a thick, muddy terrain that stretched four miles into Canada Larga Road. The overflow from the creek also undermined the only bridge and road into the quiet community.

McClintock's son, Vince, who lives in a converted bus parked near the trailer, said the creek began to overflow Sunday. He said they decided to leave the property when rocks and other debris from the hillside began to topple into the creek, which quickly grew in size.

"My mom's been living here since 1998 and we've had some floods before, but I've never seen it this bad," said Vince McClintock as he surveyed his damaged kitchen and bedroom areas. "The mud came in here about 3 feet deep, but I am thankful I wasn't here. It's all stuff that can be replaced or forgotten. We're lucky."

He said his car and his mother's van were swept away by the creek's strong current.

Across the street, the loud sound of a buzzing generator echoed through Alan Walbridge's seven-acre property, which is about 50 yards from the damaged road and bridge.

Walbridge and his family have been using the generator to keep power going in their two-story home. The community has been in the dark since Monday, Walbridge said.

He said the flood, mud and debris came just a few yards from his front door. The mudslide moved telephone poles and damaged about 20 avocado trees on the property.

Despite the damage, Walbridge counts his blessings and said it could have been worse.

"Now I have more topsoil," he said with a laugh.

A few hundred yards down the road, six women covered in mud made their way through the debris.

The women walked four miles one way to reach Laurie Canty Training Stables in Avalon Farms, where they boarded their champion horses.

Canty, who trains and boards the horses, said she and her staff decided to leave the ranch once the creek began to overflow Sunday. About 30 horses were left in the ranch, which were saved by the caretaker.

When they decided to check on the animals Monday, Canty said the mound of mud and debris was so bad that they had to hike three hours from the Highway 33 exit and across the hillside just to reach the 350-acre ranch.

"The ranch was totally inundated with water and debris," Canty said. "It looked like a tsunami went through there. (The caretaker) risked his own life by releasing the animals and letting them roam free on higher ground."

Despite the damage, some residents who live on Canada Larga Road said they plan to return to their own little slice of paradise.

"I'm coming back with a two-bedroom trailer," Lily McClintock said with a chuckle. "I love it here."