Close this window. The 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act, [23 U.S.C. Â§ 158], requires that States prohibit persons under 21 years of age from purchasing or publicly possessing alcoholic beverages as a condition of receiving State highway funds.
Desert soil is thin and dry and cannot absorb a sudden rainstorm and there are few plants to absorb water. The rain rushes down hillsides and mountains and overflows arroyos, flowing into roads and homes in its path. They can occur suddenly and areas far from the actual storm can be flooded.esert soil is thin and dry and cannot absorb a sudden rainstorm and there are few plants to absorb water. The rain rushes down hillsides and mountains and overflows arroyos, flowing into roads and homes in its path. They can occur suddenly and areas far from the actual storm can be flooded.
Since there is a great deal of water collected in one area, flash-flood waters tend to move with a great deal of force, knocking people, cars and even houses out of the way. Flash floods can be particularly devastating when a heavy thunderstorm dumps a high volume of rain on a mountain.ince there is a great deal of water collected in one area, flash-flood waters tend to move with a great deal of force, knocking people, cars and even houses out of the way. Flash floods can be particularly devastating when a heavy thunderstorm dumps a high volume of rain on a mountain.