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Visiting the Wash
Safety during Flood Season
July marks the beginning of flood season in the Las Vegas Valley. Through the use of billboards, bus shelter posters, public service announcements and Weather Channel crawls, the Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) works hard to ensure valley residents are informed of the dangers of flash floods.
The following ten tips for flash flood safety are from the CCRFCD and the National Weather Service.
- Flash flooding often occurs suddenly and without notice. Floods can happen any time in Southern Nevada and not just during the July through September flash flood season.
- When you are aware of a nearby thunderstorm, get out of the pool. Prior to flooding, thunderstorms can cause high winds, hail and heavy rains. Exit the swimming pool, Lake Mead or any other body of water because lightning is able to travel more than 10 miles and water conducts electrical current.
- Leave the golf course. When a thunderstorm hits, get off the golf course and steer clear from trees or power poles to avoid being struck by lightning. If caught in the open, you can crouch as low to the ground as possible, making you a less likely target for lightning strikes.
- Know flash flood lingo. Flash Flood Watch means a flood is possible in your area. Flash Flood Warning means a flood is happening or will happen within minutes. The National Weather Service declares both watches and warnings.
- Stay in the car. If you are caught driving in a severe storm, consider pulling over to ground higher than street level and waiting out the storm. Intense storms in Southern Nevada usually disperse in a few hours.
- Do not drive around barricades or through a flooded street or road. The pavement below may be damaged and impassable. Use extra caution at night.
- Do not walk through flood water. If your car stalls in flood water, it is considered safer to stay with the vehicle. Flood water can move as fast as 30 mph and water only inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Debris swept along with the flood can also knock you down.
- Do not drive through flood water. Most flood-related deaths happen when people attempt to drive through moving water. Flood water sweeps away cars easily and often. If you think you are safe because you drive a large truck or SUV, think again. Larger vehicles may be more likely to float because big, air-filled tires increase the likelihood the vehicles will float or tip over in swift water flows.
- Do not allow children or pets to play in or near flood water. Water in flood channels and detention basins can rise as quickly as one foot per minute. Flood water, in addition to moving up to 30 mph, is filled with hazardous materials such as chemicals, oil and bacteria.
- Stay away from standing water. Standing water is filled with bacteria and can disguise hazards below the surface such as deep holes and dangerous debris.
While safety is important during visits to the Las Vegas Wash any time of year, it is especially critical during flash flood season. Water in the Clark County Wetlands Park is not intended for human contact, so swimming, wading and fishing are not allowed. Swift moving water only inches deep can sweep a person off their feet, and the National Park Service identifies several common hazards facing someone in distress:
- High water adds to the power and speed of flow, making rescue attempts dangerous and difficult.
- Cold water rapidly drains strength and affects a person’s ability to make good decisions.
- Brush, fallen trees and undercut rocks can injure or trap a person.
- When water drops over an obstacle, it curls back on itself, forming a strong upstream current which also can trap a person.
During a flood event, water can rise as rapidly as one foot per minute in channels and detention basins. Be sure not to dump or throw anything into washes or drainage facilities, even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and obstruct channels. An obstructed channel cannot carry water and may cause flooding on adjacent properties. If your property is adjacent to a wash or channel, please do your part to keep the banks clear of brush and debris.
A trip to the Las Vegas Wash can be educational and fun. Remaining cautious while experiencing all the Las Vegas Wash has to offer is the best way to enjoy it fully, during flash flood season and year-round. More information on flood safety can be found at the CCRFCD website. The Web site also contains information on the history of flooding, up-to-the-minute rainfall and weather data and a 100-year flood zone map.