How To Prepare For Flash Floods: Hurricane Hilary
Hurricane Hilary and its vicious rainfall will bring intense flooding and uncertainty to Nevada, California and Arizona.
According to CNN, Hurricane Hilary could dump about a “year’s worth of rain” in parts of Nevada, California and Arizona, which has also created the first time officials issued a Level 4 threat in that particular part of Southern California.
CNN also reports that authorities issued hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings in Mexico’s Baja California and northwest Mexico.
Around 2 p.m. PST, the National Hurricane Center said “Hilary Remains a powerful category 4 hurricane . . . Life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding is likely over much of Baja California and southern California this weekend and early next week.”
Already with some pre-cursor rainfall, the National Weather Service had already issued flash flood warnings throughout Mohave County, Mesquite and Bunkerville.
Further, the National Weather Service in Elko also said there was a 40% chance of excessive rainfall, which could lead to extensive flooding.
Free Sandbags in Henderson Due To Hurricane Hilary
The City of Henderson announced they would be giving free sandbags to help battle floods from Hurricane Hilary.
According to the city’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account, the city announced that sand is NOT included but can be found at stores for home improvement or gardening.
You can pick up the sandbags on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at Heritage Park Senior Facility and Whitney Ranch Recreation Center.
Flash Flood Safety Tips
Preparing for potential floods could be life-saving. There are a few ways to stay safe albeit it’s hard to determine when a flash flood will exactly happen. However, not acting quickly during floods can lead to injury or death.
Cars can be easily swept away from rushing floodwaters. It’s important to never drive through any amount of floodwater. Clark County’s website states, ” If you cant see the lines on the street, its too dangerous to risk trying to cross the intersection or area. Take the extra five minutes and find another route.”
If you find yourself in a flash flood, immediately move to higher ground. Do not attempt to walk, swim or drive through any flood. There is often debrief with deadly cargo floating along the floodwaters.
It’s also important to have a rough plan for your household. Have enough food that doesn’t need refrigeration. Floods can also cause power outages, which NV Energy said on Twitter that its team is preparing for and monitoring the storm.
- Have some emergency lights in case of an outage
- Have enough dried goods and non-perishable food available just in case
- Keep important documents and extra cash in a water-proof container
- Try and get battery-powered clocks and radio, also pack some extra batteries
- Review your generator’s safety guidelines if you have one
- If you lose power, try to avoid opening your fridge and freezer to avoid losing cold air
- Buy bottled water and ensure to have enough for a few days
- Be aware during floods, snakes and other critters may find their way into your home
- If you happen to be driving during a flood and your car stalls, abandon it immediately and find higher ground
Overall, play in the pool. Do NOT play in floods. Don’t under estimate water and its power.
Weirdest Weather Events That've Happened In Las Vegas, Clark County
Thunderstorm Murdered 700 Cows
According to the Las Vegas Sun, a complex thunderstorm developed over northeast Clark County. This caused a massive flood that killed over 700 cattle at a dairy farm.
Operation Save The Animals
The snowiest winter in Nevada was in 1948-1949, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Due to an influx of snow, a large airlift operation was initiated to get stranded livestock from northern and eastern Nevada. However, it was too late for 25% of the animals.
