Chance of more thunderstorms looms over Las Vegas

Friday, July 30, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

The 1984 rainfall record for July remained intact in the Las Vegas Valley Thursday, but forecasters are not ruling out more thunderstorms rolling across Southern Nevada today.

The temperature hit a high of 92 degrees on Thursday, and Las Vegas could heat up to 100 degrees today, the National Weather Service said. The city has already set a record for the fewest number of 100-degree-plus days in July this year.

Early Thursday morning a band of showers rained on Henderson with 0.23 of an inch recorded. That was not enough to break the official record. The 1984 rainfall record for July stands at 2.48 inches.

The official rainfall record for this month is holding at 2.18 inches today.

A flash-flood watch was canceled for the Las Vegas Valley at 9 p.m. Thursday after a thunderstorm rumbling over northeast Clark County kicked up 30 mph winds.

But Lincoln County, north of Las Vegas, received 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rain in the late afternoon, filling the dry desert washes in the rural area to the brim.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Paul Skrbac said drier air is trying to move into Southern Nevada from California. The battle of the Mexican monsoon air mass and the drier flow still leaves a chance of thunderstorms and possible heavy rainfall for Las Vegas today.

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent out 131 checks today totaling $201,000 in federal flood relief to victims of the July 8 downpour that flooded the valley.

Fifteen of those victims are receiving assistance for renting temporary homes, and 116 people are getting help to cover the costs of initial repairs to their homes.

Through Thursday more than 800 people had filed claims through a toll-free number opened by FEMA after Clark County and the city of Las Vegas were declared major disaster areas from the flood by President Clinton, FEMA spokeswoman Eliza Chan said.

Clinton's declaration offers 75 percent in federal aid to repair $20.5 million in damage to public structures. The declaration also allows federal assistance for residents and businesses, most of it low-interest loans.

The toll-free number is the first step to receive federal assistance, Chan said.

The number is (800) 462-9029 or for the hearing or speech impaired, (800) 462-7585.

FEMA teams will investigate the claims of each of the applicants before assistance is given, Chan said.

A Disaster Relief Center is open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day at 1455 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 650, for those wishing more information.

FEMA Natural Hazards Program Specialist Gregor Blackburn praised the work that Clark County is doing to help protect the valley from severe flash flooding. "Clark County is ahead of the FEMA curve," he said, referring to requirements for builders to follow when constructing homes and offices.

But as rapid growth continues around Las Vegas, new streets and parking lots will continue to funnel flood runoff into older areas of the city, he said.

This is not the first time FEMA has aided Clark County, Blackburn said. As of December 1998, 112 flood loss claims had been filed for a total of $1.3 million in the county and another 134 claims with $795,529 paid to Las Vegas residents. Most damages last year occurred in the Henderson and Boulder City areas.

FEMA is also teaming with the city of Las Vegas as part of Project Impact, a federal program that hopes to educate residents and businesses to help prevent damage from future floods. Up to $300,000 may be available for seeding programs that range from protecting neighborhoods to businesses.

"We got sideswiped by this disaster," William Lundy, Project Impact coordinator, said of the July 8 flood. Las Vegas is the second Nevada city to join Project Impact. Sparks was the first to join two years ago after $10.7 million worth of flood damage.

Not only will city day care, nursing homes and other vulnerable centers be prepared to handle a flood, but the project will offer advice on earthquakes.

Some of the ideas for preventing flooding damage include placing road barricades and flares near area underpasses so those first on the scene can close the flooded basins without calling in public works crews, Lundy said.