ARES/RACES members in Clark County, Nevada, activated Monday, September 8, after heavy rains sparked flash flooding. The Amateur Radio volunteers deployed after being called up by local emergency managers to support communication during recovery efforts in the Moapa Valley northeast of Las Vegas. At least two people died as a result of the flooding.

A slow-moving storm that spun off from Hurricane Norbert dumped nearly 4 inches of rain within the space of 90 minutes onto the town of Moapa. Heavy flooding and mud closed nearly 50 miles of Interstate 15, stranding motorist and truckers, buckling or washing away pavement in many areas. Nevada Department of Transportation officials said they expected that it would take several days before the highway would be reopened. Some alternate routes also were impassible. The flooding has been called the worst in more than 30 years.

Emergency sheltering was needed for nearly 200 tribal members of the Moapa River Reservation, as well as nearly 90 elementary and high school students. Stranded motorists were being cared for at a middle school in Mesquite, on the Arizona border.

ARES personnel staffed the Emergency Operations Center in Las Vegas, and the Clark County Mobile Communications Vehicle was on the scene. — Thanks to ARRL Nevada PIC John Bigley, N7UR