The Community in Las Vegas Storm Tunnels
Similar to New York, Las Vegas has emerged as a prime place for a large homeless community that lives beneath the streets. Although Vegas lacks a subway system, it does have a network of storm tunnels, which—when combined with the desert environment—make it an alluring place to live for folks with no other options.
The number of individuals thought to reside beneath Las Vegas varies tremendously. Some estimate that there are 300 people who live in the tunnels, while others estimate that there are thousands. Homeless people, drug users, and criminals are dispersed throughout the 600 kilometers of tunnels.
The fact that the tunnels in Vegas are designed expressly to handle rain water presents one of the biggest risks for the people who use them. The folks below run the risk of having everything washed away during a storm and possibly drowning. Many of them have created incredibly intricate and substantial homes out of salvaged materials.
All local citizens are expected to abide by the rules set down by the underground dwellers, sometimes known as mole people. These are governed by people known as mayors, who choose who gets to stay and who has to leave.
Although there are groups committed to assisting the tunnel dwellers, not everyone wants assistance, and you can imagine how difficult it can be to combat addiction in a city like Las Vegas, whether it be to drugs or gambling.
