LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A prolonged power outage for more than 1,100 customers in the Las Vegas valley forced hundreds of students to be either released or relocated to other schools during an Excessive Heat Warning.
NV Energy reports the power was knocked out Thursday morning in the area of Sandhill and Twain Avenue.
Among dozens of homes, George Harris Elementary School and Chaparral High School were also impacted.
"It's an extreme mess, there is no organization whatsoever, it had be nervous," said Tammy Lutz.
Lutz said she received a message from the school for parents to pick up their children before 11 a.m. or the students would be taken to Orr Middle School.
Lutz rushed over but says parents were told a different story.
"It was pretty warm, we were standing in there, probably a good 40 parents inside the office, and it was just hot being in there for 15 minutes so I can imagine what the kids inside there must be extremely hot," said Lutz.
The Clark County School District police were also on scene for a time as parents showed up and confusion ensued.
"I got upset because I was like, 'I need to know my kids are not going to another school,'" said Lutz after school staffed informed her that children were going to be taken to another school.
Over at Chapparal High School, the power was also out and a letter home to parents warned "it may be several hours until power is restored."
The letter indicated students would be taken to Valley High School and then returned to campus at dismissal time.
NV Energy said the power was largely restored by Thursday afternoon.
The power problems come as excessive heat dominated Southern Nevada Thursday.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas says the monsoon season has been abnormally dry.
For the period of July 1 through Sept. 30, if not more rain is observed at McCarran International Airport, it would be the fourth driest in recorded history.
"What happens is when we don't have that much monsoon moisture, it tends to give us an opportunity to heat up more," said Dan Berc with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday, July 2019 was the hottest month in recorded history for Earth.
As for Las Vegas, Berc says the area has been warming for decades thanks in large part to urban sprawl.
