Emergencies-Natural Disasters

In any type of emergency you need to make sure your family has a plan.

MAKE A PLAN:

1. Your family should have an out of town contact that everyone in the family calls.

2. Your family should also have an alternate out of town contact that everyone in the family calls.

*Make sure each member of the family has coins or a prepaid phone card.

3. You should have a specific meeting place all of your family members will go to.

To make a family emergency plan tailored to your family, click on the following link:

http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp

NATURAL DISASTERS INFORMATION:

Hazards we are most vulnerable to in Clark County include earthquakes, flooding, wildfire, extreme heat and communicable disease.

EARTHQUAKES

**Several faults criss-cross the Las Vegas Valley.  Sooner or later, a major quake will cause major disruption in Las Vegas.  

BEFORE EARTHQUAKES:

1. Secure tops of heavy furniture to the wall.  Be sure to anchor to the stud.

DURING EARTHQUAKES:

1. Duck, cover and hold under a table, away from windows, hanging objects and tall furniture.

FLOODS

DURING FLOOD

1. If instructed, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves.  Disconnect electrical appliances.  (Do not touch if you are wet or standing in water.)

2. Do not wade through moving water or allow children to play in flood waters. 

 *6” of moving water can sweep a person off his feet.

3. Do not drive into flooded areas.  1’ of moving water can move cars off the road.

4. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, if you can do it safely.

5. Stay away from power lines.

AFTER FLOOD

1. Avoid floodwater as it may be contaminated

2. Be aware of areas where floodwater have receded.  Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.

FIRES/WILDFIRES

DURING FIRE

1. Use water or a fire extinguisher to put out small fires. 

2. Never use water on an electrical fire.

3. Smother oil and grease fires in kitchen with baking soda or salt.

4. If escaping through a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the knob, and the crack between the door and frame.  Never use your palm or finters to test for heat since burning those areas could impair your ability to escape.

5. If exiting through smoke, crawl low under smoke.

6. Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of the fire.

7. In a wildfire evacuate immediately when asked by firefighters and law enforcement.