The eastern Las Vegas Valley is in recovery mode following a powerful dust storm that brought with it winds reaching up to 70 mph, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Many residents are dealing with blocked roads and widespread power outages as cleanup efforts are underway.
A significant closure includes a 1.4-mile stretch of East Tropicana Avenue, which runs between South Eastern Avenue and South Sandhill Road, an area characterized by mixed-use development featuring commercial centers and residential units.
Workers have been busy clearing debris from downed power poles and even a traffic light along this busy roadway.
At a nearby WingStop, employees could be seen loading a pickup truck with boxes of spoiled food after the storm caused power outages that crippled their refrigeration units.
Weather forecasts indicate more rain could fall on Wednesday, with a 50 percent chance and high temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s.
Fortunately, winds are anticipated to be lighter, topping out at around 18 mph.
The damage was primarily caused by a series of dust and thunderstorm events that swept over the Las Vegas Valley late Tuesday afternoon, featuring relentless winds that toppled trees and brought down power lines.
Some motorists were even trapped in their vehicles by fallen lines until they could be safely shut off.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, NV Energy reported over 30,000 customers without power, with approximately 50 wind-damaged power poles that needed replacing.
By 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the utility company reported power restored to nearly all but 1,235 customers, with final repairs expected by Friday.
Jose Lucero, a greeter at a nearby Walmart Supercenter, remarked on the storm’s impact, stating, “One customer who comes frequently told me he counted 27 snapped power lines on his bike ride here. Our power came back around 6 last night, but a lot is still down elsewhere.”
In the vicinity of Tropicana and Pecos Road, safety personnel were seen directing traffic due to the outage of the traffic signal, creating a two-way stop to manage the flow of vehicles.
The timeline for clearing East Tropicana Avenue has not yet been announced.
Businesses have faced significant challenges due to the storm; when several cars approached the neighboring Bank of America ATM, they found the screens blank.
A note on the door notified customers that the bank was temporarily closed owing to circumstances beyond their control.
Ovad Metab, a 38-year-old salesman at Mattress Firm next to a downed traffic signal, arrived at work only to find his store without electricity.
He was informed he would be sent home for the day around 9:30 a.m., stating, “I never saw something like that, especially here in Vegas. It’s sad to see the city, the roads going on like that.”
Joey Scolaro, who owns Lucino’s Pizza on Tropicana, recounted witnessing multiple telephone poles collapsing near his establishment during the storm.
Unlike others, Scolaro experienced a sense of community spirit amid the chaos, saying, “This is the kind of moment that you kind of got to help your fellow neighbors out. So if we’re able to do that, we’re going to do that.”
Lucino’s Pizza regained power around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, yet the restaurant had to remain closed for the rest of the day.
However, they received a boost from The Cookie Bar on Chandler Avenue, which brought a generator to help them stay operational.
Scolaro has expressed his intention to give back to the community by encouraging those without working refrigeration or air conditioning to come to his shop for a slice of pizza to keep cool.
In the aftermath of the storm, multiple fundraisers have emerged on GoFundMe, seeking aid for those affected.
One fundraising campaign, organized by Izaiah Mendoza of North Las Vegas, highlights the devastation, reporting the storm ripped the roof off his home.
Another post features photos of a large tree that smashed into a single-story residence.
Organizer Jessy Mairena shared a heartbreaking message about her family’s struggles, stating, “Our grandma needs major care, and our family is completely split apart. We need help to get our family together including our dog Muffin.”
Matthew Henderson, 67, residing near South Eastern Avenue, noted that while his home retained power, he witnessed the havoc caused by the storm.
While walking along Tropicana that night, he saw a man in a wheelchair stranded on the sidewalk, needing assistance to get to safety.
Henderson recalled, “He was halfway down (in) the dirt. He tried to go up. It looked like somebody finally went over and pushed him to the intersection and pushed him back up.”
As Las Vegas begins to recover, the city faces the challenging task of rebuilding while reflecting on the community’s resilience during this unexpected ordeal.
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