NEVADA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE PREPAREDNESS PLAN Nobody likes thinking about it, but crisis management and NEVADA emergency preparedness has EMERGENCY MITIGATION GUIDE become a new reality. Create a plan with your family today! When community evacuations become necessary, local officials provide HOW TO DEVELOP A DISASTER PLAN information to the public through the media. In some circumstances, other STEP 1: DISCUSS DISASTERS AS A warning methods, such as sirens or FAMILY Have a family meeting to talk about disasters. telephone calls, also are used. Children should be encouraged to talk about Additionally, there may be circumstances their fears, and parents should convey the steps under which you and your family feel they take to keep everyone safe. Together, threatened or endangered and you need develop a list of things to take care of in preparing. Remember to practice your plan. to leave your home, school, or workplace to avoid these situations. STEP 2: MAKE EVACUATION PLANS If you live in a storm surge evacuation area, The amount of time you have to leave will determine where you would go if an evacuation order were given. It is best to seek shelter at a depend on the hazard. family member’s or friend’s house or hotel outside Thunderstorms, floods and tornadoes the evacuation area. If leaving town, leave well in can be monitored, you might have a day advance of an approaching storm. Shelters should or two to get ready. However, many be used as a last resort. disasters allow no time for people to gather even the most basic necessities, STEP 3: INVENTORY YOUR VALUABLES which is why planning ahead is essential. Make a list and also videotape/photograph items of value. Insurance policies should be reviewed well in advance of a storm. Keep extra copies of EVACUATIONS ARE MORE appraisals and policies. Note: Once a disaster has been issued, most insurers will not issue new COMMON THAN MANY PEOPLE or additional coverage. REALIZE. HUNDREDS OF TIMES EACH YEAR, STEP 4: CHECK YOUR HOME TRANSPORTATION AND Walk the perimeter of your home and evaluate the roof, windows, garage doors, patio doors, screen INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS enclosed rooms, landscaping, etc., to see what RELEASE HARMFUL protective measures you need to take, should a SUBSTANCES, FORCING disaster occur. Create and maintain defensible space around your home and/or business. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES. FIRES STEP 5: PROTECT YOUR VEHICLES AND FLOODS CAUSE Identify where you would store or park your EVACUATIONS EVEN vehicle, boat or RV. Double-check your vehicle insurance policy and keep it in a safe place with MORE FREQUENTLY. your homeowner’s policy. 4 NEVADA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STEP 6: REDUCE DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME AND PROPERTY A natural disaster is devastating. It's important to know how to prepare for the numerous threats from nature. Consider purchasing a generator, trim trees, and double check tie-down straps and anchors if you live in a mobile/manufactured home. STEP 7: IDENTIFY SPECIAL NEEDS DEVELOP A PET PLAN Make arrangements well in advance of a disaster In the event of a disaster, if you must to take care of infants, the elderly and those with evacuate, the most important thing you can special needs. Persons with special needs should do for your pets is to evacuate them too. If register with the Health Department. you are away from your home when your neighborhood is evacuated you will not be STEP 8: HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR PETS allowed back to retrieve your pet, so make arrangements with neighbors before a Make sure you have a plan to address your pet’s disaster strikes. needs whether you evacuate or stay in your home. Also, remember to have a plan for large outdoor • Make sure that your pets are current on animals such as horses, cows and pigs. Include their vaccinations. Pet shelters items into your family's disaster supply kit. may require proof of vaccines. • Keep a collar with identification on your STEP 9: HAVE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT pet and have a leash on hand to Make sure you have a week’s supply of control your pet. non- perishable food, water and medical items for your family. For more information visit: • Have a properly-sized portable pet dem.nv.gov/preparedness/ carrier for each animal. • Have a supply of food, water and any STEP 10: SHARE YOUR PLAN required medications. Let your family, friends and coworkers know of your disaster plan. Make sure they know how to Animals brought to a pet shelter are reach you to check on you. Have an out-of-town required to have a proper identification family member or friend as a point of contact. collar, and all belongings (leash, food, bowl, toys, water, and their medications). EMERGENCY MITIGATION GUIDE 5 FAMILY PREPARATION Protect yourself and your loved ones by making an emergency plan. What special steps you will take in different types of NEEMERGENCYVADA MITIGATION GUIDE emergency situations. PRESERVING YOUR FAMILY DOCUMENTS In a disaster where you might have to leave your home quickly, important ALWAYS: documents may be left behind and ultimately destroyed. Before the Keep a full tank of gas in your car if an emergency occurs, decide which records are most essential to you and evacuation seems likely. Gas stations your family. One factor to consider is how readily a lost record could be may be closed during emergencies replaced. Loss of some records could result in major financial damage (like and unable to pump gas during power tax records), or would be irreplaceable (like family photographs and outages. Plan to take one car per fam- historical documents). ily to reduce congestion and delay. The following is a list of the documents you should safeguard and be able to retrieve quickly to take with you. GATHER YOUR DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT. › DRIVER LICENSES, SOCIAL SECURITY & INSURANCE CARDS Make transportation arrangements with friends or your local government if › CONTACT INFO: POINT PERSON, DOCTORS, SCHOOLS & EMPLOYER you do not own a car. › PASSPORTS, GREEN CARD, MILITARY SERVICE IDENTIFICATION Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that › MEDICAL HISTORY INFO, HEALTH INSURANCE CARDS & LIVING WILL provides some protection, such as › PET OWNERSHIP PAPERS, MEDICAL & IDENTIFICATION TAGS long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a › IMMUNIZATION RECORDS, ALLERGIES & MEDICAL POA PAPERS cap. › BIRTH, MARRIAGE , DIVORCE AND DEATH CERTIFICATES Listen to a battery-powered radio and › ADOPTION, CHILD CUSTODY PAPERS & DISABLITIES DOCUMENTATION follow local evacuation instructions. › RECORDS OF BANK ACCOUNTS, CREDIT CARD INFO SECURE YOUR HOME: › VEHICLE LOAN DOCUMENTS, VIN, REGISTRATION & TITLE Close and lock doors and windows. › INSURANCE POLICIES: HOME, AUTO, LIFE, FLOOD & APPRAISALS Unplug electrical equipment, such as › A LIST OF IMPORTANT/ VALUABLE BELONGINGS radios and televisions, and small appliances, such as toasters and › A VIDEO OF EACH ROOM IN YOUR HOME microwaves. Leave freezers and › WILLS, CONTRACT, DEEDS, TRUST & POWER OF ATTORNEY refrigerators plugged in unless there › RECORDS OF STOCKS, BONDS OR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS is a risk of flooding. Gather your family › BACK UP OF KEY COMPUTER FILES and go if you are instructed to evacuate immediately. In order to ensure that you can quickly retrieve these documents, it is suggested that you: LET OTHERS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING. › KEEP THESE DOCUMENTS (OR LEGIBLE COPIES) IN A WATER AND/ Leave early enough to avoid being OR FIRE PROOF CONTAINER WITH YOUR DISASTER KIT trapped by severe weather. › KEEP ORIGINALS (IF POSSIBLE) IN A SAFE PLACE AWAY FROM YOUR Follow recommended evacuation HOME, LIKE A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX OR SAFE routes. Do not take shortcuts; they › BE SURE TRUSTED FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW WHERE THESE ITEMS CAN BE may be blocked. Be alert for FOUND. washed-out roads and bridges. Do There are many ways to prepare your essential records for an emergency. not drive into flooded areas. Whatever method you use, remember to keep your records updated. At the STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED very least, choose one day each year to make certain they are current and POWER LINES. ready to evacuate. 6 NEVADA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT pack special foods and supplements for them. month as needed. WHAT ARE THE COSTS FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO BE PREPARED The following will give you an idea of what it may • Set up a telephone call tree, password-protected cost to develop a disaster protection and business page on the company website, email alert or call-in continuity plan. Some of what is recommended voice recording to communicate with employees in can be done at little or no cost. Use this list to get an emergency. started and then consider what else can be done to • Provide first aid and CPR training to key co-workers. protect your people and prepare your business. Use and keep up-to-date computer anti-virus • NO COST software and firewalls. • Meet with your insurance provider to review • Attach equipment and cabinets to walls or other current coverage. stable equipment. Place heavy or breakable • Create procedures to quickly evacuate and objects on low shelves. shelter-in-place. Practice the plans. • Elevate valuable inventory and electric • Talk to your people about the company’s machinery off the floor in case of flooding. disaster plans. Two-way communication is • if applicable, make sure your building’s hvaC central before, during and after a disaster. system is working properly and well maintained. • Create an emergency contact list including employee emergency contact information. • Back up your records and critical data. Keep a • Create a list of critical business contractors copy offsite. and others whom you will use in an emergency. • Know what kinds of emergencies might affect MORE THAN $500 your company both internally and externally.