“Preparedness Month is a good time of year to think about what you and your family’s needs may be in the event of an emergency,” said Clark County Fire Department Deputy Chief Billy Samuels, who oversees the county’s Emergency Management Division. “Fires, floods and other emergencies are unpredictable by nature, but there are some basic steps everyone can take to help themselves in an emergency situation.”
The top hazards identified in Southern Nevada by local emergency managers include communicable disease, wildfire, flooding, earthquake and extreme heat. Power outages also can happen sporadically. Through Aug. 31, the public is invited to take part in an 11-question survey about local community hazards as part of an update of the County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ClarkCountyMJHMP2023.
Local emergency managers encourage residents to download the free Southern Nevada Community Preparedness App to help prepare and plan for emergencies. The app offers free weather alerts, safety tips and resources to help families create personalized emergency preparedness plans and disaster supply kits. The public also can sign up to receive free public safety alerts via text or email through a community notification system called CodeRED at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF1085069456. Both tools have apps available from the Apple Store or Google Play. More details are on the Fire Department’s website pages at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov along with safety tips for a variety of situations. The County’s Emergency Management Division will have an informational table set up at the Clark County Government Center in downtown Las Vegas from Sept. 7-15 to encourage emergency preparedness. Key steps include:
- Make a plan. Talk to your family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster, and how you will connect if separated. Choose a primary and secondary meeting place in case an emergency affects your home or neighborhood and designate an out-of-state contact for family members to call if separated. Teach youth to prepare for emergencies. Businesses, community organizations and families should participate in safety drills and exercises.
- Build a kit. Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your household including food and water. Consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly. Include provisions for infants and medically fragile family members. You also should prepare an emergency kit for your car.
- Be informed. Know the risk of dangers in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards and act fast if you receive a local warning or alert. In an emergency, stay tuned to local TV or radio stations for alerts, instructions, and official notifications. Follow Clark County on social media @ClarkCountyNV.
- “Property Brothers” earthquake safety PSA with The Scott Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwbJhENzVCg
- “Emergency Preparedness Begins at Home:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBN2VFzt1aE
- Report suspicious activity to the local “See Something, Say Something” hotline at (702) 828-8386: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xWmWg3Oitw
- Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.Ready.gov
- American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
- Southern Nevada Health District: www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org
- Nevada Division of Emergency Management: www.dem.nv.gov
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department: www.lvmpd.com.
- Clark County Regional Flood Control District: https://www.regionalflood.org/
Alerts Sign-up