WATER ALWAYS WINS: Officials warn residents of flash floods ahead of monsoon season
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — On July 8, 1999, a flash flood took over much of the valley.
The National Weather Service reports that 3.2 inches of rain poured down in about 90 minutes in parts of the valley. The city infrastructure at the time was not equipped for the water, creating a flood.
On Monday, the Regional Flood Control District held a press conference to get a message out to the community: "Water Always Wins."
Monsoon season is right around the corner, so city officials, first responders, and those from National Weather Service all spoke out warning valley residents to be prepared and use caution.
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The district says a lot of work has been done since 1999. As of June, 100 detention basins and about 648 miles of channels and storms drain have been placed throughout Clark County.
About 75 percent of the district’s master plan is now complete, but about 36 detention basins are still in the planning stages and have yet to be built.
The biggest message for those living in the valley; don’t risk your life. If you see flood waters, don’t chance it and try to drive or wade through.
“It was a hundred-year event. It started at about 10 o'clock for us in the city and by 6 o’clock it was all over. So if you pull off and go shopping have dinner, wait in a mall. It’s not worth you risking your life to get somewhere when you can wait it out and it’s going to be completely gone in a few hours,” said Tim Szymanski with the Las Vegas Fire Department.
The district also reminding parents to tell your kids to stay out of the washes and to not play in flood water as it is very toxic. For more resources, you can head here.
