Minor flooding hits valley, damage assessment efforts continue

Kiley Russell

Wednesday, July 14, 1999 | 1:06 a.m.

City, state and federal officials were hustling to assess damage from last week's flooding when another fast-moving thunderstorm swept across the valley, dumping as much as three-quarters of an inch of rain in some areas.

The storm hit about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, drenching the center of town and around the Flamingo Wash area.

City fire department officials said Wednesday the Charleston underpass was flooded and Western Avenue had to be closed from Sahara to Charleston because of rising water.

There were no reports of injuries or property damage, and officials don't expect damage assessment efforts to be slowed by the rain.

While more solid numbers will be available Wednesday evening, Clark County spokesman Doug Bradford said that as of Tuesday night about 353 homes were reported damaged - 82 severely - and five mobile homes were destroyed by last week's torrential rainfall.

Four damage assessment teams have been driving around the Las Vegas Valley, trying to determine just how much destruction last week's flooding caused. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Association and state and local agencies are developing damage estimates to determine if the area qualifies for federal disaster relief assistance.

"So far it's topped $13 million but it will probably go higher by this afternoon. That's just for roads, bridges, highways and flood control systems," Bradford said.

He added that the latest estimates of damage to businesses totaled $3 million but no dollar amounts have been released regarding residential damage.

Las Vegas officials are estimating damage to city property, including streets, culverts, stop lights and buildings, at about $3 million.

Before a disaster area is considered eligible for the SBA's low interest loans, 25 homes without insurance must be damaged beyond 40 percent of their assessed value, Bradford said.

Similarly, a business must be uninsured to qualify for SBA assistance. Damage assessments for businesses, however, include revenue-loss estimates.

Gov. Kenny Guinn must declare a state disaster before President Clinton can order FEMA to give money to local governments and affected property owners.

The Las Vegas Valley is on the extreme northern fringe of an area affected by seasonal, monsoon rains in July and August.

"We're evolving into a pattern that will bring a drying southwest wind into the area and we'll notice significant drying by Friday and Saturday," said Jesse Haro, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.