ARES/RACES Volunteers Mobilize In Wake Of Nevada Flash Flooding:

ARES/RACES members in Clark County, Nevada, activated Monday, September8, after heavy rains sparked flash flooding. The Amateur Radiovolunteers deployed after being called up by local emergency managersto support communication during recovery efforts in the Moapa Valleynortheast of Las Vegas. At least two people died as a result of theflooding.

A slow-moving storm that spun off from Hurricane Norbert dumped nearly4 inches of rain within the space of 90 minutes onto the town of Moapa.Heavy flooding and mud closed nearly 50 miles of Interstate 15,stranding motorist and truckers, buckling or washing away pavement inmany areas. Nevada Department of Transportation officials said theyexpected that it would take several days before the highway would bereopened. Some alternate routes also were impassible. The flooding hasbeen called the worst in more than 30 years.

Emergency sheltering was needed for nearly 200 tribal members of theMoapa River Reservation, as well as nearly 90 elementary and highschool students. Stranded motorists were being cared for at a middleschool in Mesquite, on the Arizona border.

ARES personnel staffed the Emergency Operations Center in Las Vegas,and the Clark County Mobile Communications Vehicle was on the scene. --Thanks to ARRL Nevada PIC John Bigley, N7UR

Source:

The ARRL Letter