Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

[erehwon]

All I really remember about the flood is landing at McCarran and wondering if I was really in Las Vegas, I have never been there when its humid. Friends that got in earlier had stories about the Alexis Park front desk with about a foot of water sloshing around...


http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009...tter-prepared/

By Kyle Hansen (contact)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

In an average year, the Las Vegas Valley gets a little more than 4 inches of rain, usually spread out in small, scattered storms.

But 10 years ago today, on July 8, 1999, more than an inch of rain fell at McCarran Airport in just one hour. Other parts of the valley received anywhere from 35 to 70 percent of the annual rainfall — between 1.5 and 3 inches, most of it in less than 90 minutes.

The rain and subsequent flash floods caused more than $20 million in property damages and took two lives, one a homeless man who was caught in flood waters and the other the result of a weather-related traffic accident.

By the end of the day, more than 150 swift-water rescues were performed by the Las Vegas and Clark County fire departments.

The damage was bad enough for President Bill Clinton to declare the area a federal disaster area.

Today, the valley is better prepared for similar storms, according to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District. But there is still work to be done.

[...]

[TheCotMan]

Re: Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

All I really remember about the flood is landing at McCarran and wondering if I was really in Las Vegas, I have never been there when its humid. Friends that got in earlier had stories about the Alexis Park front desk with about a foot of water sloshing around...

I remember there were 3 different years with floods, and one was just before con. The worst one I saw was just before con, and caused many sections on Tropicana to be flooded down to one lane (shared) for both directions. That year I had a rental van, and was driving around 2 other people that came with me that year. I bought extra umbrellas at the grocery store to loan to people the next day, but the next day was mostly clear again.

Our small group waited out the storm at the Star Trek Experience, and then by eating Lunch. I remember parking on the top level of their parking structure and joking, "if the water gets this high, my first concern won't be insurance claims on the rental." My passengers chuckled uneasily at that comment. :-)

The most impressive observation came after the flooding hit was found in watching the news. Underpasses, where city traffic ran under the freeway in the northwest section of Las Vegas were filled with water, nearly touching the freeway! That was crazy!

I thought there was another pre-con rainstorm-flood after Defcon 7, too. I've been in Las Vegas 3 times when there was rain-related flooding, and over the years, Defcon is pretty much the only reason I go to Las Vegas anymore.

[renderman]

Re: Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

I remember that too. I have pics somewhere too.

First time in Vegas, I remember waking up to the sound of rain and in one of those comical looking moments from movies of delayed recognition, I rolled over for 5 seconds before sitting up wondering what the hell was going on. Since it was my first Defcon I kind of suspected someone did something to a fire hydrant or something.

I got up and went out to the front parking area of the AP and stood there for a good hour watching waters rise and the dance troupe of teenage girls run through it in t-shirts while they waited for their airport shuttle. They ended up missing their flight because the road got closed since water was running over the adjacent flood channel.

I had my wide radio scanner with me and spent alot of time listening in on hotel maintenance freq's, listening to thier engineers freaking out about flooding. I can still hear the rings of "There's fucking water everywhere flooding the forum shops but we can't get the people to leave, they're still shopping! What do we do?"

The main thing I remember was tropicana flooding with a full foot or 2 of water adn seeing a small car (Geo Metro or something) floating, not just being pushed, but floating, bobbing along the street past the hotel.

Freaking wild way to start my first Defcon. Interestingly enough the storm just keeps getting weirder.

[big chopper]

Re: Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

My flight was almost redirected to Onterio California, but we landed just after the rain stopped. I vividly remember picking up my rental car pre DEFCON 7 and seeing a flood on the CNN monitors at the rental place. It took me a while to realize that they were talking about Las Vegas. Looking down Harmon, and seeing a river crossing the road, I wondered if there would even be a DEFCON that year. I almost got stalled in about a foot of water in front of Caesars Palace. I waited it out at the food court at The Venetian.

After the con, I went up to Red Rock and there were still streams running and a few washed out roads.

I also remember a flash flood right before DEFCON 10, but it was mild in comparision. I watched that one from my suite at the non-defunct Lady Luck.

--BC,

[AggonA]

Re: Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

When we dropped into Primm on the 15, just over that range of mountains,
the valley was flooded.
The water came just up to the side of the road.

Definitely, a sight that was seen.

"Heeey! There's not suppose to be WATER here!"
...'WTF Mate'

[Ne0nRa1n]

Re: Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

That year was my first year in Las Vegas. I really didn't know much about the world at large. I ended up hitch-hiking to DEFCON from Denver, Colorado where the car that my friends had been driving broke down. I was so confused about the fact that it was raining and asked someone if it always rained like this in Las Vegas, to which they responded.

"Smartass."

Which just confused me all the more. It really all seems so surreal when I think back on it.

[sintax_error]

Re: Remember the great flood of Defcon 7?

All I can say about that year is that walking around looking for a place to buy a new pair of boots, after your only pair with you have gotten dried and crusty (leather and water are not friends, kids) was easily on the top 3 of most painful things my feet have ever been through...