A Nevada brush fire fueled by 82 mph wind gusts burned more than 20 homes in the Reno area January 19, 2011. The fire, smoke and evacuations are expected to continue to impact the area through January 21, 2012. The fires have forced thousands of people to evacuate their neighborhoods and about 2,000 people remained under evacuation orders late Thursday.A Mobile Response Unit arrived to assist policyholders afftected by this fire.
Some of the worst winds in years blasted the Southwest Region specifically Utah and Nevada starting November 30 and are expected to subside December 1, 2011. Experts are saying that these are probably are the worst windstorms to hit the area in more than a decade and preliminary reports suggest "extensive damage." Strong winds downed trees that damaged homes and broke windows with claims concentrated in Utah specifically Davis and Weber Counties. The winds downed trees and tree limbs took out power lines, cutting electricity to thousands of utility customers, utility officials said.