Feds assess damage in Moapa Valley for possible flood aid

By Katie Visconti

Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 | 5:45 p.m.

Federal officials are spending today assessing the flood damage in the Moapa Valley area to determine if it qualifies for financial aid.

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration are visiting Overton, Logandale, Moapa, and the Moapa Band of Paiutes reservation with state and Clark County officials and plan to visit Sandy Valley on Tuesday. These assessments are standard protocol to determine whether the impacted areas are eligible for federal assistance.

For the county to be eligible for federal reimbursement funding, disaster damages from the Sept. 8 storm must rise to $6.8 million — an amount that could cover the cost to repair public infrastructure, damage to roads, buildings and related overtime costs.

Late last week, county assessors said about 140 homes were damaged by Monday's flooding in the Moapa Valley region, and more than $1 million in damage has been done to roads maintained by Clark County.

Officials said 48 homes were damaged in Overton and Logandale and 91 homes suffered damage in the town of Moapa and on the Moapa Band of Paiutes reservation.

Typically, federal disaster assistance to homeowners and businesses comes in the form of loans through the SBA if eligibility requirements are met.

The Clark County Commission will decide at its Tuesday meeting whether to declare a state of emergency over storm damage.