Clinton approves federal disaster aid for Clark County

Angie Wagner

Tuesday, July 20, 1999 | 6:20 a.m.

President Clinton decided Tuesday that the massive flooding that swamped Las Vegas earlier this month did enough damage to warrant federal help.

Clinton declared the Las Vegas Valley a federal disaster area, meaning people whose homes and businesses were ravaged by the July 8 flood will get some relief.

The federal government will pay 75 percent of the cleanup costs while the state and county will have to chip in the remaining 25 percent. Gov. Kenny Guinn said the torrential rains did an estimated $20.5 million in damage to public facilities.

"These federal funds will help residents and businesses start to rebuild and recover from the losses they suffered during the flood," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "I'm glad they acted quickly."

Guinn asked for 100 percent federal relief, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that is only given to communities that were totally devastated and have local and state governments with no means to contribute to the recovery.

Guinn said Tuesday he was "grateful and relieved" Clinton agreed to provide disaster relief.

The governor said a disaster field office will be set up in Clark County to assist flood victims. The office will help victims file for assistance.

Nevada's congressional delegation stressed that flood victims will have to contact FEMA to apply for help.

"They're not going to go out looking for people," Reid said. "It's up to individuals and businesses to contact them."

Two people were killed in the July 8 storm, described by weather officials as the worst to hit Southern Nevada in 15 years. Mobile homes were washed away and hundreds of cars were stranded at flooded intersections.

The $20.5 million in damages includes only public property in Las Vegas and Clark County and doesn't include losses to any private property or businesses. Damage to more than 350 homes and businesses could run another $5 million.

"Clark County's families and businesses are one step closer to getting the assistance that is so vital to begin rebuilding their lives," said Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.

Reid, Gibbons, Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., had all urged Clinton to move quickly and approve the request.

"The level of damage to private and public property is going to cost millions of dollars to cleanup and certainly reached the level of destruction that warranted a federal disaster designation," Bryan said.