County commissioners consider requesting ‘state of disaster’ declaration

Clark County commissioners on Tuesday will decide whether to ask Gov. Brian Sandoval to declare a "state of disaster" for the county after two record storms caused flooding that killed two people and damaged more than 30 homes and businesses.

The claim, if approved by the commission, the governor and federal authorities, could provide hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief.

But the county doesn't yet have an estimate on how much damage was done or how much it will cost to clean up. Most of the damage was done to private, not county, property.

County building inspectors have looked at 91 homes and businesses and found that 32 need repairs before the properties can be used again.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, whose central and east valley district bore most of the damage, requested the agenda item.

Sandoval's spokeswoman said, "The state stands ready to assist Clark County should they declare an emergency."

The past month has seen two days of unusual rainfall. On Aug. 22, more than 1½ inches of rain fell in a one-hour span in Henderson. And on Sept. 11, a Clark County Regional Flood Control District rain gauge in Summerlin picked up 2 inches of rain over a three-hour span.

Both storms proved deadly.

The  Federal Emergency Management Agency hasn't granted funds for disasters in Southern Nevada since 2005, when storms and flooding caused thousands of dollars in damage in Clark and Lincoln counties. The agency granted nearly $1 million to county and local governments in the aftermath.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@ reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781.