1997 New Years Flood - Reno, Nevada

Here is some footage I recorded January 1-4, 1997 from over-the-air television onto VHS of some of our local news clips/coverage of the 100 year flood, The New Years Flood of 1997 in Reno and Sparks Nevada. I uploaded this video for historical and personal value and for those who enjoy wilder weather. Mahalo and enjoy!! #renoflood #1997newyearsflood #100yearflood

[@daisyakari]

That was crazy! I was a year old when this happened (lived in Reno).

[@firestick4991]

Just moved to the Reno area in 2018. It took us a second to realize Helms Pit is now The Marina and Legends! We heard it used to be a mining pit or something? Apparently there’s still heavy equipment and earth movers still at the bottom of the pit! Thank You for providing us some context and history about our new home. 2025/2026 is supposed to be another wet year. I wish everyone luck!

[@smokintay143]

This is my first time hearing about this after my family has lived in northern nevada their whole lives!! And the marina used to be empty at one point??? This is the most interesting story I’ve ever heard about reno and everyone decides to keep it a secret?? IM MAD

[@CBLounge2112]

The marina used to be an open pit mine and was called Helms Pit and was empty until that point, it's amazing what they did with it!! We have had a few good floods since 97 but nothing like that year for sure, it was crazy!!

[@takenoprisoners3610]

Yep! I was there for the 100 year flood! We had the biggest snowstorm in a decade...dropped 2 feet of snow in the higher elevations on December 20...then the rains came and all of that snow flooded into the Truckee river and flooded the entire city! What a scene, man! It was EPIC

[@RDEE2022]

The rebranding of Helms Pit deserves an award😂😂

[@personaz]

I was in 5th grade that year living in Sparks.... my mom worked for one of the news stations and got trapped in her building... crazy times.

[@nikihunter5972]

Remembering this flood 25 years later. Native of Reno and still live in the area.

[@happyhippie2853]

I remember, I worked at O' Reillys in Sun Valley and it even flooded out there

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

Dec. 2017---Thanks for the video. Moved to Reno area in 81 and think it was in 83 I dealt with my first flood here. Worked as graveyard computer operator about 1/4 mile from Truckee River in Sparks and a block from the Ralston cereal plant. After 17:00, only people left was swing shift computer operator and then me. When I got off at 07:00 Saturday, locked everything up and find water's about 3-4 inches below my '68 International Traveall's door?! But The White Elephant (as I call her), cranked right up and had no problem getting thru the water with the sound of the exhaust pipe making a constant burbling noise. The Army national guard sent out some trucks to take people back who had lower vehicles and of course, were flooded. And yeah, still got The White Elephant. If aint broke, don't fix it.

[@CBLounge2112]

Thanks for the great story! I remember 1983, that was when Slide side of Rose slid down into Washoe Valley, we has soooooo much rain that year, almost seems like more rain than in 97. Thanks for watching and commenting I appreciate it!!

[@nocafeine]

I was in USMC infantry training in San Diego during this storm... I remember because they had to call out the combat engineers when we got stuck behind a flooded river...

[@michaelfleming3096]

I was in Reno during this flood. Quit overwhelming.

[@elflordsjourneys]

I've live in reno 35 years and remember all this, 97 was the worst and hopefully we'll never have one like this again.But you never know.

[@David-nl1zt]

I was there when that happened. Lived in Reno and worked for Southwest Airlines in Reno. We had no flights for 3 days. One side of the airport had 6 feet of water in it.

[@defaultboii3015]

I wasn't even born when that Happened

[@robertrupp9322]

I was working at circus circus hotel and casino with the best boss in the world, Jeri keyte may you rest in peace now.

[@rossieearles7795]

Thanks lots. 💖

[@CBLounge2112]

You're very welcome!!

[@dcraexon]

It takes me a fifth a day to stay here, In this floodplain but hell yeah let’s go Brandon because you don’t know what the sand actually means or stands for

[@alans.martin538]

thanks for putting this together, I'm doing some research about the 20 year anniversary of the floods on the California side, and this was some great info. How soon we forget that mother nature is in control.

[@CBLounge2112]

You're very welcome, glad you enjoyed and hope it helped with your research!!!

[@Itslikethis-un3ki]

I lived in Lockwood in Lagomarsino Canyon in some old trailers that Joe Conforte had originally installed for his working girls at Mustang Ranch. My next door neighbor was banging on my door and I grumpily answered the door to see water at the very top of the stairs to the trailer entrance. I got lucky as that’s as high as it got.

[@SpaceCowboy-u7j]

Every 20 years or so, Reno experiences a high tide.

[@CBLounge2112]

LOL!

[@SHOWYOUTHEBEST]

Great videos and channel.. Keep up the good work!! Greetings from Vegas

[@CBLounge2112]

Thanks for the kind words!!

[@nenaj5825]

I remember the laundry crew telling me water was in the folding room . At the Holiday Hotel on Mill . Right in the river . Within 4 hours we had everything moved to second floor banquet rooms . I blocked off a room with 3 beds for a week. As we sand bagged and my son and I made sandwiches for all the helpers in the dark kitchen .

[@CBLounge2112]

Thanks for sharing your story!!

[@TrendyBromando]

i miss the days when Nevada even got water...

[@CBLounge2112]

LOL!! Ain't that the truth, looks like we got a little bit of snow tonight though!!

[@TrendyBromando]

don't worry it'll melt by 1:00 o clock today

[@hfgvbbnfhhghjj6565]

+REEDSBUDترخي

[@TrendyBromando]

o shit yup it was flooding bad

[@sophiadao9848]

update: it's JANUARY 8 in 2017 and there will be another flood in reno

[@katiel626]

Sophia Dao hopefully it doesn't get that bad... 😦

[@omarithomas7020]

Sophia Dao not like 1997

[@JOSEKLRANGEL]

that is a lot of water .. I went once to Reno. 1996, stay at the flamingo .. remember that there was a near a train station or rails. cause I hear a lot of trains horns. Nice history there dude..

[@CBLounge2112]

Yup, the trains run right through the middle of downtown where you stayed. Would be cool if you made it back to Reno one day my friend!!

[@dcraexon]

I was hanging out in between third Street at night and it was a beast

[@Brandywine9999]

1996-1997 is the last major El Nino! We are currently in an El Nino weather pattern...

[@thomasobrien1213]

That was an El Nino year. We had epic surf that year

[@jamesholcomb5615]

I was in Elementary school there when this happened.

[@EvelynnOfficial]

i didn't know Reno had floods! and i had lived i still do my whole life and i have never heard of floods in reno in tv

[@kobegrassi4298]

You must be younger

[@EvelynnOfficial]

Kobe Grassi i was born in 2004 so i wasnt there back then

[@Jplent1]

You should give up drugs.

[@rossy2976]

Or understand proper english... lol

[@sharonrose4904]

Water goes where it wants to and this is scary!!!

[@hawaiisidecar]

Historic video.

[@CBLounge2112]

For sure, I am glad I recorded some of the news reports and have them to watch all these years later!!

[@davidbowman7406]

I was living in Reno at that time and I remember that flooding and they had another one in 2005, I was working Northeast of Reno and me and my boss went to see how bad his worksite was, the rental yard was flooded and we also went to check on his sister and her family was and at first we was told that we could not get in, but then the officer let us go in and come right back out. We found out the she was. ot at home and we could see that in some places the water was up to the lawn and almost to the front door and now I am living here in Denver, Colorado and I was here for the flooding of 2013.

[@hfgvbbnfhhghjj6565]

انا

[@hfgvbbnfhhghjj6565]

انا

[@michaelhuynh8793]

I remember analog tv before June of 2009

[@CBLounge2112]

Thanks for the comment Michael!!

[@navythomas8]

God damn! were you close to that this year?

[@CBLounge2112]

Now where close to flooding this year brother, that day we had over 5 feet of snow here in Carson and 12+ feet of snow at the higher elevations and then a warm storm with an enormous amount of rain moved in and melted all the snow in less than 24 hours and BOOM...BIG TIME flood!!

[@ElizabethClassof2008]

No idea how I got here but I remember seeing this and hearing about it on radio and tv. I was 7 years old & I was worried for my life that the water would get to my house. I remember telling my mom to go pick up my grandparents because I didn’t want them to die 😭 (we lived no where near where the flood took place)

[@CBLounge2112]

LOL!! Awesome story, thanks for sharing!!!

[@joseescobedo7899]

Dude those observation decks are fully underwater only thing poking out of those roofsbut he went to her if there was people in the buildings are near the river if they saw that the entire first fluid was completely underwater

[@u.s.a.9534]

I WAS WORKING AT LAKES CROSSING ,,,,,,HAHAHAHAHA......................

[@cashstore1]

Holy Moley!

[@Jplent1]

Too bad it wasn't Sun Valley. It would have made it look better.

[@CBLounge2112]

LOL! Is that possible?

[@joseescobedo7899]

I just moved in Reno last year I TIHNK I was near that area I was born in 2003 so I wasn't aware and spent half of my life in California and moved to this city I didn't know this place was flooded

[@joseescobedo7899]

OH MY GOD I WAS IN THAT AREA not at the time tho

[@joseescobedo7899]

I was in bicentennial park

[@garyglenn1445]

I was there, it was crazy!!!😮

[@PesceRossoSenior]

shits going wild

[@patsprings4296]

Yikes!

[@pizzasubs]

I dindt know that Wendy has been with Channel 2 since at least 97, wow!!!!!

[@CBLounge2112]

Andrew Silva I remember Wendy on Channel 2 back as far as 1994. Thanks for watching!!

[@Dr.A.Rosenberg]

Reno needs another flushing ! Too many turds from Cali !

[@CBLounge2112]

Great comment and it's the truth, flush those Califruitcakes outta here!!!

[@garyhall6294]

I bet you blamed Cali when your boyfriend gave you that STD.

[@cncshorts1075]

So damn true it’s getting worse 😂

[@happyhippie2853]

Reno has always been a transient city

[@yoncethatrovloxeryt1947]

there so stupid car need to go out im freakin scared now 😢😢😢