Flood damage cost could hit $500,000

This weekend's storms caused an estimated $300,000 to $500,000 in damages in Carson Valley, said County Manager Dan Holler.

The heavy rains affected smaller streambeds and residential areas like Jacks Valley, in addition to the river corridor and Valley floor, he said.

Flooding exposed fiber optic cables above Jacks Valley Road near the Genoa Lakes Golf Resort, as well as areas around Walley's Hot Springs. In the east Valley near the intersection of Johnson and Nye Lanes, a third of the road washed away.

"The whole Foothill area had minor mudslides," he said. "For example Nixon Street in Genoa, where we have a drainage problem, was a disaster."

Minor flooding plagued Jacks Valley Road, which was closed intermittently to remove debris and for a time, Kimmerling Road and Highway 88 was closed, Holler said.

The East Fork of the Carson River reached flood stage at about 3 a.m. on New Year's Eve and dropped below again about 12 hours later. At its peak, the river there flowed at 9,000 cubic feet per second.

In Woodfords, the river reached flood stage at about 5 a.m., peaking at 3,000 cubic feet per second before it dropped below flood stage at about 4 p.m.

Mottsville, Centerville, Genoa and Muller lanes all closed due to the flooding as did Highway 395 late Saturday, when the river jumped its banks near Cradlebaugh Bridge, Holler said.

"The river flooded above the bridge, but we think it may have been debris," he said. "We don't have an answer to that one."

Minor flooding plagued south Douglas County, but overall the area handled the rains well, Holler said.

"Dresslerville Ranch Road and a couple of roads in the East Valley had some pretty good cuts in them," he said.

Emergency operations started Friday, a coordinated effort including East Fork Fire and Paramedic District. The county was divided into seven sections, with different officials responsible for each.

"We work with NDOT on the roads and call the towns and general improvement districts," Holler said. "We can bring in other resources as needed, if the event gets worse."

An ambulance was pre-positioned in Genoa to compensate for anticipated flooding that could impede access to that area and county crews worked through the weekend removing debris and clearing roads, Holler said.

"On top of this, we had the New Year's event at Stateline, but it was a very calm evening," he said.

The event drew about 25,000 people this year, the influx of people from California slowed by the weather, Holler said.

Cleanup from the flooding is expected to take about a month, a coordinated effort that includes nine 12-man teams from Nevada Division of Forestry. Those teams, which have been critical in this crisis, are working now to clear ditches and waterways throughout Douglas County, Holler said.

County officials declared a state of emergency about 11 a.m. Saturday, that designation still in effect.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Administration will be in Douglas County to estimate the damages, those figures forwarded to Gov. Kenny Guinn for approval.

His declaration could move the disaster designation to the federal level, making the county eligible for federal reimbursement, Holler said.

n Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.