Henderson firefighters were back at Cowabunga Bay Water Park this week for their annual swift-water rescue training, and it is a good reminder that flash flooding is a real part of life in Southern Nevada. The Henderson Fire Department held the hands-on training exercise on Monday, July 6, 2026, giving crews a chance to practice rescue scenarios in moving water.
What I like about this training is that it is practical. Swift-water rescues are not something you can fully prepare for in a classroom. When water is moving fast, conditions can change quickly, visibility can be poor, and rescue teams have to make decisions under pressure. Using Cowabunga Bay gives firefighters a controlled but realistic environment where they can train for the kinds of emergencies that can happen during monsoon season.
That matters because Henderson and the Las Vegas Valley can go from dry streets to dangerous flooding very quickly when storms roll in. Flash flooding can happen in washes, flood channels, roadways, underpasses, and low-lying areas. Even when the water does not look deep, it can still be powerful enough to move people or vehicles.
A few key details from the training:
- Henderson Fire Department held annual swift-water rescue training
- Training took place at Cowabunga Bay Water Park
- The exercise happened Monday, July 6, 2026
- Crews practiced hands-on rescue scenarios
- Training helps prepare for monsoon season
- Flash flooding and severe weather are major local concerns
- Moving-water training is difficult to replicate elsewhere
- Henderson Fire’s technical rescue team participated
- Residents are reminded to stay away from water when it rains
- Just 6 inches of moving water can move a person
Henderson Fire Captain Colin McTaggart, who serves with the department’s technical rescue team, explained that one of the hardest parts of preparing for these rescues is replicating real-world moving-water conditions. That is exactly why this type of training is so valuable. It gives firefighters a chance to work through rescue techniques in an active water environment before they are called into a real emergency…