The Truckee River, swollen with seven inches of rain, swamped much of downtown Reno, Nev. Harrah’s Casino, barricaded behind a wall of sandbags, was forced to close for the first time in its 60-year history. In California, officials said it was some of the worst flooding in the state’s history. The Merced River turned into a maelstrom that cut access roads into Yosemite National Park, trapping 2,200 tourists in hotel lobbies and concession stands for nearly three days. “There’s plenty of food, and no one is in danger,” a park worker said. “But the waterfalls are unbelievable.”
