Governor praises FEMA for quick response

FERNLEY - Less than three minutes into his portion of Saturday afternoon's Fernley flood press conference, Gov. Jim Gibbons got the question he was expecting.

How has FEMA responded - especially in the wake of the criticism that followed Hurricane Katrina?

Gibbons praised the federal government's work thus far - noting they'd offered resources and supplies for more than 10,000 people during the early goings of the flood Saturday.

"In my book, FEMA has stepped up," he said.

Gibbons said his next plan of action would be to sign a declaration of emergency for Lyon County. He said he hoped a Federal Declaration of Emergency would be soon to follow.

"Many people are not going to be able to come home tonight," he said. "There's a breach in the levee."

Just like that, as the sacrosanct words "breach" and "levee" were uttered, the floodgates of questioning and conspiracy opened among the local and national media that had descended upon Fernley. At press time Saturday, the exact numbers still were speculative. But this is what was shared by Lyon County fire and sheriff officials - as well as mayor Todd Cutler.

• Lyon County Sheriff's Office got its first official flood call at 4:19 a.m. Saturday from a resident of Blue Opal Court.

• FEMA was set to arrive at Fallon Naval Air Station by 5 p.m. with supplies.

• An estimated 800 homes were in the flood plain. Mayor Cutler said more than 100 residents evacuated to Fernley High School, noting many more probably sought shelter with friends or neighbors in Fernley or outlying communities.

• The flood plain is approximately 6 acres along Farm District Road and mainly pertaining to a newer development near the west end of town.

• Evacuations Saturday were not mandatory.

• At press time, the town's drinking water, power and gas were all operational.

• No injuries or fatalities were reported.

That nobody was hurt during the flooding was classified by some emergency service officials as miraculous.

"It is a testament to the work and to this community that we are where we are now," said North Lyon County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Scott Huntley.

"People have gone above and beyond the call," said Cutler. "This is a tragedy to our community."

Search and rescue officials and crews from Lyon, Washoe, Storey and Douglas counties were onhand with dozens of rescue vehicles and 18 helicopters.

The massive effort by air and sea coordinated more than 200 emergency personnel, including bus drivers from the Lyon County School District, dispatched to shuttle marooned families to the nearby triage shelter.

"The way I see it, this is part of the job," said Cynthia Ashe, a driver for the school district as she exited the cab of her yellow bus just after 10 a.m. Saturday. "I would've been here sooner, but I had to chain up."

Mayor Cutler attributed the efficiency of the rescue to the work of countless volunteers.

Volunteers like Sean Johnson of Fernley, who filled up a Red Cross van and trailer with gas and checked the air pressure on the tires before heading to the neighborhoods in search of stragglers.

Johnson would eventually take folks back to the high school and do another circle if need be.

It was just before 10 a.m. Saturday, less than six hours after the initial report of flooding.

"My mom's actually a (volunteer)," he said. "I went over to make sure her house was OK - it was.

"She asked if I'd get in the van for a bit, so I did. Anything we can do to help. Everyone seems to be coming together super-quick. You're never prepared for something like this. But, we've seen enough in other places - when something happens, you know you've got to react."

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.