100-year flood - 10 years later edition

Hope everybody had a great 4th of July weekend.

I'm doing this a bit early, and since I haven't conversed with most of you in more than two decades, I do want to share with you the 10th anniversary of what is considered the worst flash flood event in the history of Las Vegas. Some refer to it as the 100-year flood. I experienced this crazy and almost disasterous day - and now ten years later, here I am to tell you all about it.

I remember this day vividly. My family had just moved to Henderson after over a decade in the Spring Valley area, since that area was being redeveloped with the I-215 expressway. At the same time I was doing part-time work with Action Messenger, but was delivering auto parts - that was cool and all, but not enough to pay my bills. I applied earlier in the month for work both at Tahoe Springs and at Hinckley & Schmitt, two water companies that I have in the past applied for but came up short. On June 8th I was scheduled to be interviewed at Hinckley, which was later merged with Sierra Springs and then in turn bought out by Sparkletts - go figure.

Anyway, that interview went well - but I knew at the time it started that the weather conditions were going to go south, and by 10:30 or so, it did. I headed directly for the Nissan and my only thought in my mind was getting my butt back to Henderson. Fortunately I had my scanner, as I always carry it with me in the event something bad was going to happen. It started out OK; at first I wanted to get over to the I-15, but it was jammed solid, so no dice there. I took Desert Inn over to Paradise - again nobody home.

Where was the International Scout when I needed it?

As it turned out I took DI all the way over to Maryland Parkway, and it was raining like cats and dogs, with a little bit of hail, and lots of thunder and lightning. The Parkway was flooded, but looked passable enough to proceed. I thought maybe Sahara or even Charleston Blvd would get me out of this area that was in danger of becoming impassable. According to Metro, many of the roads were flooded.

With no other option, my only chance was to take Fremont all the way to Las Vegas Blvd and possibly get on the Expressway and head to Henderson. NHP did not report any closures on the I-515 so I managed to get on the 515 and headed straight to Henderson. I was supposed to go to the place after the interview and deliver auto parts, which I strongly opposed and wanted no part of what was going on out there. Their needs vs my life and property are two very different things.

As it turned out, Boulder Highway was flooded out at the Flamingo Wash, and many businesses in that area were damaged severely. Areas on the base of Sunrise and Frenchman Mountain were at risk to flash flooding as well, so that was not an area to be either. HPD didn't report any closures either - in fact, most of the rain headed in an east/northeast direction so it missed the eastern portion of Henderson.

A total of 1.29 inches of precipitation fell at McCarran International Airport, but areas of the Las Vegas Valley got as much as 3 inches of rain from these thunderstorms. Over 200 rescues were reported by the Clark County Fire Authority, and some $20,000,000 in damages were declared.

Las Vegas was not alone. This storm was part of a long line of showers and thunderstorms which formed from near St. George, Utah southwestward towards Barstow, California. Hats off to those at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas for their work in protecting the public and issuing these warnings as quickly as they can.

In case you are wondering - after that Hinckley & Schmitt interview - Tahoe Springs called me for an interview a day later - and I was hired shortly thereafter, thus starting my days in the industry that I'm in today.