Brad Horn/Nevada Appeal A neighborhood near Farm District Road in Fernley sits under flood waters as some residents collect valuables on Sunday after heavy flooding damaged homes and forced evacuations. As many as 400 homes were damaged when the canal's bank gave way following heavy rainfall Friday.
FERNLEY - Fernley residents who were flooded out of their homes Saturday morning when an irrigation canal's earthen levee ruptured are playing a waiting game in deciding where they will go.
Lifelong Fernley resident Joey Cramer, who lives on Shadow Mountain Road, plans on staying with friends while he and his family decide what to do.
When Cramer first saw the water Saturday morning, he did not think it would turn into a flood or disaster.
"Within 25 minutes of seeing the water, it was 2 feet deep," he said. "We saw a little bit of water and then it gushed."
Realizing their home was going to flood, the Cramers used towels and bags by the front door to give them more time to place valuables in higher places.
When the Cramers exited the home, they waded through 3 and a half feet of water before being picked up by a boat.
He said he has gone back to his home, and while his yard still is under a few feet of water, the home's interior is covered with mud.
"It's damaged. It's a total loss," he said, adding he has no flood insurance and is hoping the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help him and his neighbors.
He said his home is about a half mile from where the canal broke.
Cramer did not have much time to gather clothes when leaving his home, so he's thankful for the community's donations. One room at the high school was full of clothes donated by residents and businesses.
"If it was not for people donating clothes, I do not know what I would do," he said. "I have seen water move before, but never grow like that."
Cramer wants to know why residents were not informed of the emergency by the city or county.
The American Red Cross was out in full force at Fernley High School and was encouraging affected residents to register at the site.
Caroline Punches, executive director for the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter, said many flood victims have no idea of the condition of their homes.
She added Diamond F Ranch on Farm District Road has offered to take in animals that may have been displaced because of the emergency.
"The short-term thing for me is to pull together to make sure the family needs are met," she said.
Schools in the city of Fernley will resume classes as scheduled today even though the Red Cross is using the old gym at the high school as a shelter.
Peter Macias, director of communications, marketing and government relations for the west service area of the Red Cross, said the gym can hold 300 cots.
Punches said residents are still coming in to ask for aid and assistance.
On Saturday, 326 residents registered with the Red Cross at the high school, and as of 2:30 p.m. Sunday, another 50 people had registered.
She expects more people to ask for help since many areas of the city are still under many feet of water, including Farm District and Wilson roads.
Chris Miller, associate pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Fallon, was with eight members of his congregation who were preparing meals for residents and work crews Sunday.
"Our job will be to prepare meals to send out to the work site," he said. "We will be out here until we are relieved by the Red Cross. We prepare the meals, and they deliver them."
You Can Help
Wells Fargo has provided an account to provide assistance for victims of the flooding in Fernley. The American Red Cross Disaster Fund account number is 3062563352. To donate, visit any Wells Fargo location. The Nevada Red Cross is also accepting donations at http://www.nevada.redcross.org.