Flood aftermath brings surprises during cleanup
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As if a flood of this magnitude in the desert isn't surprising enough, how about toads in the living room and fish under the sidewalk? It's all in the aftermath of this September storm. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- As if a flood of this magnitude in the desert isn't surprising enough, how about toads in the living room and fish under the sidewalk? It's all in the aftermath of this September storm.
Don't let the blue skies and the bright sunlight fool you. Less than 24 hours ago, an east valley neighborhood near Nellis and Sahara was literally underwater.
The water line in William DeFalco's garage is a good indication of just how bad things got Tuesday night. It measures almost a full ten inches off the ground.
In other parts of the neighborhood that borders Desert Rose golf course, the water mark rises several feet high.
Fifteen-year-old William McDowell points toward his neighbor's home. "The sidewalk over there -- I was trying to walk through people's yards so I won't go drown in the water -- I stepped on the sidewalk and the sidewalk caved in.
That created a sinkhole, exposing a gas line. A Southwest Gas crew working to cover it back up made a surprising discovery... their mission turning temporarily into a rescue.
"There he is! Come here buddy. He's a big boy!" said a crew member who just pulled a large goldfish out of the sinkhole and placed it into a bucket of fresh water.
The crew rescued a toad that had been in a family's living room and three fish before temporarily turning off meters throughout the neighborhood, replacing those that were underwater as a precaution.
Other crews on scene also found themselves faced with a lot more than they bargained for.
Republic Services was hauling away couches and carpets... "Scooters, dresser, mostly almost everything except for stuff upstairs," added McDowell.
The highschooler stayed home from school today to help his family clean up. Staring at the devastation, he marvels at the timing of Tuesday's flood.
"Like wow, this happens on 9-11?"
His neighbor across the street sloshes in slippers through his home.
"The baseboard has to come out because of mold," explains a devastated William DeFalco. "Then they're coming to tear up all the carpets. All the furniture needs to be cleaned -- what can be cleaned, what can be salvaged."
Everything that was in the closets is now in the eaves.
"Washer and dryer don't work. Stove? Don't know about the stove. It's shaky on the stove."
Amid it all, DeFalco, a magician by trade, watches his wand sitting idle.
"I wish I could just wave it and make something happen but that's not gonna... that's not gonna work."
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