Feds assess flood-battered Moapa Valley for possible aid

By BEN BOTKIN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

A woman opens a door to a car stuck in mud in flooding on Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas, near Moapa, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Remnants of flood waters are seen over playground in Moapa on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. (Photo by David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Remnants of flood waters are seen near homes in Moapa on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. (Photo by David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jim Vallet, left, holds the pillow he used to sleep with in his car last night as he returns home to his neighborhood near the Muddy river in Overton on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. High flood waters filled homes and caused damage in the neighborhood. Vallet and his wife, Melanie Vallet, center, slept in their car in the parking lot of Moapa Valley High School Monday night.(Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Jim Vallet, right, holds the pillow he used to sleep with in his car last night as he returns home to his neighborhood near the Muddy river in Overton on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. High flood waters filled homes and caused damage in the neighborhood. Vallet and his wife, Melanie Vallet, center, slept in their car in the parking lot of Moapa Valley High School Monday night.(Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Water flows down the middle of Interstate 15 about 50 miles north of Las Vegas, near Moapa, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. The road is expected to be closed in both directions for three to four days because of the flood damage. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration started touring the flood-battered Moapa Valley Monday to determine if the area is eligible for federal aid.

For Clark County, the threshold to be eligible for federal reimbursements is $6.8 million. County officials don’t know yet if costs will hit that figure. Costs that are potentially covered include anything tied to response, cleanup and repair to public infrastructure, including roads, buildings and overtime costs.

The teams of about a dozen staffers visited Overton, Logandale, Moapa and the Moapa reservation Monday. They’ll go to Sandy Valley on Tuesday.

Clark County commissioners will vote on a disaster declaration Tuesday,

which will allow the county to pursue federal and state aid.

Monday’s flash flood hit the Moapa Valley hard, washing out part of Interstate 15.

State transportation officials have expanded overnight hours for commercial trucks on I-15.

The freeway has one lane open in each direction near Moapa, where the flood damage to the interstate was heaviest.

Northbound trucks are being detoured from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. off I-15 to a route adding 50 miles and several hours to their Nevada-to-Utah trip. Passenger traffic and southbound commercial trucking aren’t restricted.

The Nevada Department of Transportation says repairs could allow the reopening of both northbound and southbound lanes of the divided highway on Sunday.

The flood damaged an estimated 91 homes in Moapa, including some on the Moapa Band of Paiutes reservation. Clark County also has assessed another 48 homes in Overton and Logandale for damage.

Homeowners and businesses typically receive federal disaster assistance through SBA loans if they qualify. To find out more visit http://www.fema.gov/disaster-survivor-assistance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.