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Kim Lamb • LVN photo Jessen Mortensen attempts to clear a TCID drain near his home in the Jenny's Lane subdivision.
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Kim Lamb • LVN photo Bryan Adgett stands outside of Fernley High School with his cat, Serge, and belongings he was able to pack before flood waters surrounded his home. Adgett and his parents, residents of Jenny's Lane, were headed to stay at a Reno hotel, courtesy of his father's employer, Sherwin-Williams.
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Mary Jean Kelso • Special to Fernley Today Some evacuees from flooded areas took shelter in Fernley High School where they were offered food, clothing and blankets.
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FERNLEY - Eric Flodman stood in front of his Camille Drive home assessing the situation - water covered his yard and topped his home's foundation, but the house was safe so far.
He said he first learned of the flooding when his neighbor, Tim Tyree, came banging on front doors at about 5:30 a.m. Flodman said the flooding was at its worst around 7 a.m. and had receded 2 to 3 inches by 9:30 a.m.
Flodman's girlfriend, property manager Kelly Cardin, was fielding phone calls from people all over the country Saturday morning; after watching the flooding on national news, they all wanted to know if their investment properties in Fernley were safe.
He said he first learned of the flooding when his neighbor, Tim Tyree, came banging on front doors at about 5:30 a.m. Flodman said the flooding was at its worst around 7 a.m. and had receded 2 to 3 inches by 9:30 a.m.
Flodman's girlfriend, property manager Kelly Cardin, was fielding phone calls from people all over the country Saturday morning; after watching the flooding on national news, they all wanted to know if their investment properties in Fernley were safe.
As Flodman and Cardin milled around in the street with nearby residents, they watched as their next-door neighbors packed up their SUV and headed out.
Such was scene all over Fernley. Those who could get out did. Those not yet touched by the flood waters waited.
Mike McKnight and his daughters stood patiently on Jenny's Way watching the scene from the front yard. McKnight was caring for his vacationing friend's home and headed to the house to evacuate the horses. As he watched tall, four-wheel-drive vehicles deliver rescue boats further down Jenny's Lane, he kept an eye on the two horses tied to the horse trailer. The horses snorted and danced nervously as the helicopter circled overhead then hovered over homes a half mile away. He had already taken five horses to a friend's ranch further east on Farm District Road.
Such was scene all over Fernley. Those who could get out did. Those not yet touched by the flood waters waited.
Mike McKnight and his daughters stood patiently on Jenny's Way watching the scene from the front yard. McKnight was caring for his vacationing friend's home and headed to the house to evacuate the horses. As he watched tall, four-wheel-drive vehicles deliver rescue boats further down Jenny's Lane, he kept an eye on the two horses tied to the horse trailer. The horses snorted and danced nervously as the helicopter circled overhead then hovered over homes a half mile away. He had already taken five horses to a friend's ranch further east on Farm District Road.
Fernley High School was bustling with activity Saturday morning. The American Red Cross was staged at the high school, the designated evacuation center. Inside the front doors, tables were set up to check in evacuees, and the hallways were filled with donations of blankets, towels, diapers, playpens and clothes.
Maureen Tabata and two of her neighbors sat warming under Red Cross blankets in the high school's cafeteria. Tabata and her husband, along with a neighboring family, were taken from their Shadow Mountain Drive home by a rescue boat. She said they were the last ones out of their neighborhood. They climbed out a bedroom window into the boat and floated to safety.
Tabata said she learned of the flooding just by looking out her window. She had hoped to see snow Saturday morning. Instead, she saw the street lights reflecting in 3 feet of water in her front yard. The flooding destroyed everything inside her home.
Tabata said she heard reports of water rushing through the Green Valley Drive neighborhood so hard it ripped appliances from their homes and pushed them into the streets.
Maureen Tabata and two of her neighbors sat warming under Red Cross blankets in the high school's cafeteria. Tabata and her husband, along with a neighboring family, were taken from their Shadow Mountain Drive home by a rescue boat. She said they were the last ones out of their neighborhood. They climbed out a bedroom window into the boat and floated to safety.
Tabata said she learned of the flooding just by looking out her window. She had hoped to see snow Saturday morning. Instead, she saw the street lights reflecting in 3 feet of water in her front yard. The flooding destroyed everything inside her home.
Tabata said she heard reports of water rushing through the Green Valley Drive neighborhood so hard it ripped appliances from their homes and pushed them into the streets.
Tabata's neighbor, Carol Wilson, said she had just returned from water-logged Oregon, a place she expected to see flooding but didn't.
"I never thought I'd be in a flood in my life," Wilson said. She and her husband had just enough time to grab their cell phone, dog and cat before hopping into their truck and leaving.
Tabata and Wilson were two of just a handful of people staying at the high school. Edrie Lavoie, director of the Lyon County Human Services, said there were just as many volunteers as evacuees on Saturday, but she was grateful. Lavoie said all the donations in the hallway were from Fernley residents who rushed to provide whatever they could for their neighbors.
"I never thought I'd be in a flood in my life," Wilson said. She and her husband had just enough time to grab their cell phone, dog and cat before hopping into their truck and leaving.
Tabata and Wilson were two of just a handful of people staying at the high school. Edrie Lavoie, director of the Lyon County Human Services, said there were just as many volunteers as evacuees on Saturday, but she was grateful. Lavoie said all the donations in the hallway were from Fernley residents who rushed to provide whatever they could for their neighbors.
Barbara Smith was awakened early Saturday by strange lights in her bedroom - the street light reflecting off water on her Coldwater Way home. She said the water came just a few inches into her home, enough to ruin all the flooring. Smith and her husband, Bob, planned to stay with friends in Fernley until the water receded and power was restored to her neighborhood.
Outside the high school, the Adgett family was preparing to leave Fernley for a few days. Jim Adgett, a Sherwin-Williams employee, his wife Lynn and son Bryan had a few bags packed and their cat, Serge, in a crate. Jim's company is paying for the family to stay at a Reno hotel for three days and providing them with a rental car and food expenses.
"It's just great to see the people from Northern Nevada come together," Jim said.
Outside the high school, the Adgett family was preparing to leave Fernley for a few days. Jim Adgett, a Sherwin-Williams employee, his wife Lynn and son Bryan had a few bags packed and their cat, Serge, in a crate. Jim's company is paying for the family to stay at a Reno hotel for three days and providing them with a rental car and food expenses.
"It's just great to see the people from Northern Nevada come together," Jim said.
Not all evacuated residents were taking it so well.
Tabata's husband, who refused to give his first name, said he was upset because there was no alert system in place. He said the only notice he heard was a city employee running down his street yelling for residents to evacuate.
Mr. Tabata is also upset that his home did not have flood insurance. He said before he purchased his home, he checked the FEMA maps and saw he was not in the listed floodplain, so he did not purchase flood insurance.
"We did everything we were supposed to," he said in disgust.
Tabata's husband, who refused to give his first name, said he was upset because there was no alert system in place. He said the only notice he heard was a city employee running down his street yelling for residents to evacuate.
Mr. Tabata is also upset that his home did not have flood insurance. He said before he purchased his home, he checked the FEMA maps and saw he was not in the listed floodplain, so he did not purchase flood insurance.
"We did everything we were supposed to," he said in disgust.
