Government Shutdown Forces Private Property Owners From Homes

Private-property owners on Nevada's Lake Mead have been kicked out of their homes by National Parks Service officials as part of the federal government shutdown, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Saturday.

At least 60 families with vacation properties along the picturesque shores were given 24 hours to vacate their homes that are situated on federal land.

"They are all vacation homes and everybody who lives in them are considered visitors," said Christie Vanover, spokeswoman for the Lake Mead Recreational Area.

"If anybody needs to gather their personal belongings, we’re not going to deny them access. They can go do that. They just can’t spend the nights there or have barbecues during the day," Vanover said.

"They need to get in and get out," she said.

Ralph and Joyce Spencer, who are 80 and 77-years old respectively, told KTNV-TV they were forced to leave so quickly they forgot to pack essential clothing.

"I had to be sure and get his walker and his scooter that he has to go in," Joyce Spencer said.

Recreational boaters will protest the closure of Lake Mead Sunday night by towing their boats down the Las Vegas Strip between the Tropicana and Sahara.

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