Hi,
I've some news from Gary, here's his report:
regards
marc
namur Belgium
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Reese" <pcacala@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "marc simon" <marc.simon@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 5:59 PM
Subject: Re: flood in Vegas...
> Hi Marc:
>
> << I've seen at the news that there is a flood in Vegas and the pictures
at
> the TV were impressive... Have you been concerned with that ? Hope you are
> fine, >>
>
> The 2-3 inches of rain in 45 minutes was localized on the NW side of the
> valley and I live in the center of the rainfall area. It was twice the
amount
> which results in a 100 year flood and twice the amount the drainage system
> (still incomplete) is designed to handle.
>
> I'm not on low lying ground, so I was able to delight in watching what
> reminded me, after living in Florida, of a low level hurricane. When the
> rains slowed down and the hail stopped, I ventured out with an water
> repellent Olympus Style Epic w/ 38-80mm zoom and some partly shot Delta
400.
> The first thing to look at, besides the trees blown over in what was
measured
> to be 59 mph wind, was the drainage channel. It is straight and miles long
> and the water raging through it was perhaps 40-50 mph and at capacity.
There
> was no room for any more flow without overtaking a bridge. Just down slope
> was a water retention basin, which ended up about 17 feet deep, just shy
of
> its 21 ft. max. The debris clogged basin made for some interesting
pictures
> in the sunset which followed. The ball fields on its perimeter were
> illuminated at dusk - an errie sight amidst all the helicopters hovering
> overhead. One of the helicopters was the Metro rescue team which has made
the
> worldwide news. No, I couldn't see anything until I went back indoors and
> saw it on TV.
>
> There was no walking the mile or so to where the worst of the damage was
> taking place. The streets were choked with vehicles and some were stalled
out
> from water in their engines. One person got home and said it took an hour
to
> drive one mile. The first time I stepped into the street I nearly lost my
> footing and I wisely didn't try again. Once you get swept into an eddy
there
> is nothing to grab to stop your movement. There was small and large
debris
> flowing through the floodwaters and you'd get stung every so often while
> wading. I also didn't know that manhole covers had been blown off, so I
> could have fallen into one of those if I hadn't restrained myself. So my
> little bit of documentation had to be the block I live on. Not that I
don't
> have the OM bag loaded with everything I need in case there is a repeat
and I
> can be well positioned.
>
> Gary
>
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