LAS VEGAS (FOX5) —A business off Sunset near Decatur believes a nearby homeless camp may be responsible for flood damage to the building, with damage that may be $100,000 or more.
Clean-up and repairs continue at Las Vegas Quality Water Works, nearly a month after the flooding. The business contacted FOX5 after seeing a previous story about the homeless camp near the business.
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Flooding on Oct. 11
The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel hit the Valley on Oct. 11. Surveillance video from Las Vegas Quality Water Works shows stormwater being diverted away from the building at about 5:21 a.m.
But within a few minutes, the water spread across the parking lot and reached the building. At 5:35 a.m., the inside of the building was covered in water.
“I was shocked. We’ve owned this building for 12 years and nothing like this has ever happened,” said Stephanie Connell, office manager of Las Vegas Quality Water Works.
The entire building flooded, and there was substantial damage. Drywall has since been torn out, and there was some mold. Office furniture is in a pile in the warehouse while cleanup continues.
“And unfortunately now we’re stuck taking accountability for something that wasn’t our fault,” said Connell.
Business points to storm drain
Connell and her father, the owner of the company, believe the flooding was caused in part by a nearby homeless camp, the same camp FOX5 reported on in October. They suspect debris, including a mattress from the camp, got into the storm drain and plugged it.
The business says the blockage forced open a heavy storm drain cover and diverted water toward the business, instead of a tunnel that runs on the side of the business.
Connell and her father said county officials have been to the site and have spoken with them about the problem and possible solutions.
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Insurance and county response
The business has insurance, but Connell said the company has issued its first denial.
Connell and her father believe the county should help. They said the county knew the homeless camp was there and did not address it right away.
“We’re hoping the county will take care of it. They haven’t said no. They haven’t said yes. They are taking our calls still. And it’s just, I think the government moves very slowly,” said owner Stephen Everette.
FOX5 has been in contact with Clark County, which said public works has been navigating destruction caused by the unhoused across the valley, including copper wire thefts.
“However, this location seems to have experienced damage to a pipe, likely from homeless, but not confirmed,” said county officials in an email.
They also said the damaged pipe will need to be replaced for the drainage system to work properly.
This is what the county said after our question whether it would pay for the flood damage.
“It would be premature to speculate about whether Clark County would be liable for any damages arising from the subject storm at this point. Clark County is immune from suit for incidents caused by specific hazards or defects of which it lacked actual knowledge. So, Clark County would need to have a complete understanding of the underlying facts and causes of the subject flooding before it could make a determination about potential liability, if any.”
Clark County officials also told FOX5 public works crews plan to clean out the manhole next week. They say they’re waiting for a business to move some items to access the storm drain.
Railroad property
Connell said the county mentioned that the land where the homeless camp was located is Union Pacific Railroad property. The county told FOX5 the same thing earlier, and FOX5 contacted the railroad at that time.
It is not clear whether the property ownership will factor into who might be liable for damages.
A day after the FOX5 story about the filthy homeless camp, a county contractor cleaned up the mess. Other nearby businesses applauded the move saying they’ve called several times to complain about the mess.
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