The system that protects you
The Regional Flood Control District traces back to 1985, when the Nevada Legislature authorized flood control districts. Clark County voters approved its funding the next year. In 2026 its system includes 113 detention basins and more than 722 miles of channels and underground storm drains, and about 75 percent of the master planned system is built. It is paid for with a quarter of one percent sales tax and covers Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite and unincorporated Clark County.
That system is why most valley homes stay dry in most storms. It cannot stop water at your door threshold.
Safety numbers worth remembering
- Six inches of water is enough to lose control of a vehicle.
- One foot of water can float most cars.
- Nearly half of flood deaths happen in cars, trucks or SUVs.
- Water can move at 30 mph through flood channels, and 6 inches of it can knock you off your feet.
- Most rainstorms only last a couple of hours. Wait them out.
Every one of those comes from the District. Turn around, don't drown.
Ready the house before July
- Clear patio, side yard and courtyard drains.
- Check that the ground slopes away from the slab, not toward it.
- Look at roof scuppers and gutters. Make sure they dump away from walls.
- Check door sweeps and thresholds on low doors.
- Know where your main water and power shutoffs are.
- Photograph your home's rooms now. Before photos help any claim.
During the storm
Stay inside if it is raining hard or floods are reported. Do not drive through water on the road. Stay away from washes, channels and basins, even after the rain stops, because water can flow through them at any time. If water starts coming in, do not stand in it near outlets, and do not switch power on or off while in it.
After the storm
Water that came across the ground outside is Category 3. It carries whatever it picked up. That means mud out first, porous materials it soaked removed, hard surfaces cleaned with detergent and water and sanitized, then drying with readings to a dry standard. Never run a generator or gas pump inside or within 20 feet of doors, windows or vents.
Flood is not on your home policy
Standard home, condo and renters policies exclude flood. Flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood policy. Rain that came through a roof the same storm damaged can be a different case from water that came in at ground level. Photograph exactly where the water entered before cleanup.