Youth center residents, staff rescued by Nellis helicopters

Jace Radke and Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005 | 9:48 a.m.

Nellis Air Force Base dispatched HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters to Caliente Tuesday afternoon to help evacuate a state-run youth center isolated by washed-out roads.

Nellis Spokesman Master Sgt. Charles Ramey said that four Pavehawks, allocated to the 66th Rescue Squadron, were sent to Caliente, about 150 miles Northeast of Las Vegas.

The helicopters were used to ferry 118 juveniles and 19 staff members from the Caliente Youth Center to Panaca High School about 15 miles away. The center, which serves as a school and detention center for juveniles with disciplinary problems, is under the administration of the State Welfare Division, state officials said.

The center is located near the Meadow Valley Wash, which overflowed and washed out a small bridge, trapping the juveniles and the staff, Lincoln County Emergency Management officials said.

The center is situated on the east end of town where U.S. 93 curves north towards Pioche, and backs up to a mountain, Lincoln County officials said.

Mike Willden, state human resources director, said Tuesday that the creek that runs through the wash flooded the road into the center and the athletic field. But there was no water in the buildings.

"There was too much unknown," said Willden, adding he did not know if more water was coming down the nearby canyons.

The center was operating on emergency power but had food and water, he said.

There were three options, Willden said. The children and staff could remain there trapped; they could try to walk out over a large adjoining mountain or they could be evacuated. He said some of the juveniles had medical problems and would have had trouble making it up the mountain.

"We were concerned for their safety," he said, referring both to the children and the staff.

The juveniles and staff were housed overnight at the high school gym and cafeteria in Panaca, and could remain there for a couple of days, Lincoln County officials said today.

Crews are working today to repair the bridge and roadway that allows access to the youth center, and Lincoln County officials estimate that it could be Friday before it will be safe for the juveniles and staff to return.

In addition, a Nevada Air National Guard C-130 flew to Nellis from Reno with more than 50,000 empty sandbags. The sandbags were unloaded at Nellis for use in flooded areas.

Ramey said that the sandbags could be transported by helicopter to some locations around Southern Nevada.

Nevada National Guard Spokeswoman 1st Lt. April Conway said that the National Guard has only been asked to transport the sandbags and have not been called up by Gov. Kenny Guinn to assist with the flooding.