Restoration help in Moapa Valley

The valley and its towns

The Moapa Valley follows the Muddy River from the Moapa area south toward Lake Mead, inside Clark County's Northeast County planning area. Logandale and Overton are the main residential communities, surrounded by farms, horse properties and open desert, with Moapa farther north near Interstate 15. Many homes sit on large lots with barns, shops and irrigation ditches, and some are manufactured homes.

A history of serious flash floods

The surrounding mountains and mesas drain into the valley through steep washes, and when a strong thunderstorm parks overhead the water comes fast.

• August 10, 1981. According to the National Weather Service event report, up to 6.5 inches of rain fell in less than an hour. In Overton, 84 mobile homes and 37 houses were damaged or destroyed, about 700 people were evacuated, and 24 homes in Logandale were affected.
• January 2005. The same storm that flooded Mesquite pushed the Muddy River out of its banks into Moapa Valley homes, and the USGS reports roughly 350 homes damaged in Overton.
• September 8, 2014. A storm meteorologists described as roughly a 100-year event washed out sections of Interstate 15 and damaged about 139 homes across Moapa, Overton and Logandale. Later that month the Muddy River crested at a record 14.2 feet.
• Ongoing. Logandale and Overton were included in a National Weather Service flood advisory on November 1, 2026.

The common thread is that flood water here is muddy, fast and contaminated. Under the IICRC S500 standard it is Category 3 water, which means porous materials it touches are typically removed rather than dried. See flash flood and storm damage for what that cleanup involves.

Call from Moapa Valley

Everyday losses, too

Most calls are not floods. The valley sees the same problems as the rest of the desert:

• Water heater and supply line failures, especially in older homes and manufactured homes where lines run under the floor.
• Evaporative cooler and AC leaks that soak ceilings and walls during long, hot summers.
• Septic and sewer backups, since many rural properties use septic systems. See sewage backup cleanup.
• Fire and smoke from kitchen fires, shop fires and brush fires along the river bottom.
• Mold in manufactured home subfloors, closets and casitas after slow leaks.

Manufactured homes need extra care

Manufactured homes are common in the valley and react to water differently from site-built homes. The subfloor is often particleboard, which swells and loses strength when wet. The belly board under the home can hold water against the floor and ductwork for weeks after a leak. Flood water entering the underbelly may require removing insulation and ductwork beneath the home. Make sure the provider has worked on manufactured homes and plans to inspect underneath, not just inside.

What to do first

• Never drive or walk through moving water in a wash or road crossing.
• Turn off water at the main or the well pump breaker if it is a plumbing leak.
• Stay out of flooded rooms until electricity is off.
• Photograph the outside water line, the inside water line and all damaged contents.
• Call the homeowners insurer for plumbing, fire or roof damage, and the flood insurer for outside water.

Insurance and licensing

The Nevada Division of Insurance's flood guide notes that standard homeowners policies exclude flood and that NFIP policies usually take effect 30 days after purchase. If a storm caused both roof damage and rising water, report them separately to the right insurers. The Nevada insurance guide has the details. Before hiring anyone for repairs over $1,000, confirm the license with the Nevada State Contractors Board, especially after a large storm, when out-of-area crews often arrive.