Emergency Management

About 700 additional Nevada National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will enter the fight against COVID-19 this week, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Tuesday.

With confirmed Nevada cases of the coronavirus rising above 2,000 this week, state officials continue grappling with how to coordinate their response. The coronavirus crisis cuts across agency silos, straining not only the health system but social services and the supply chain.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began assessments earlier this month in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City for potential hospital space expansion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaders from Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties, known as the Quad-Counties, continue to coordinate closely with Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS), the local health authority for the Quad-Counties, to monitor and respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

In the latest measure of the devastating and unprecedented economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, weekly unemployment claims in Nevada last week continued to surge by the tens of thousands with 79,865 new initial claims, according to preliminary statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor released Thursday.

Nevada lawmakers have given final approval to disburse more than $6.2 million in emergency management funds to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nevada Division of Emergency Management and the state's Department of Health and Human Services will be temporarily aligned with the Nevada Office of the Military for the duration of the COVID-19 public health crisis to ensure the entirety of Nevada’s state government is used effectively and efficiently in response to this unprecedented emergency situation, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Monday.

Editor's Note: The following letter is from Nicki Aaker, Director of Carson City Health and Human Services, addressing concerns about local testing and numbers of COVID-19 cases that was addressed by Carson Now reader, Abby, who explained her own and her husband's situation. Go here to read the original story.

Thank you, Abby, for bringing your story to the forefront. Abby’s story was published on CarsonNow Saturday at 9:28 am. As the Director of Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS), I would like to address some of the issues that Abby has brought up.

MINDEN — In response to COVID-19 Douglas County officials continue to work closely with Carson City Health and Human Services and a regional Emergency Operations Center that has been set up in Carson City to ensure compliance with the Governor’s directive while working in partnership to keep Douglas County residents safe.

Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting one new positive case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus in the Quad County region: Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties. This brings the total number of cases in the Quad-County region to four.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has ordered — not asked — all nonessential businesses in the state to shut down and cease operations at midnight Friday as part of a monthlong closure to avoid further spread of the novel coronavirus.

But what exactly is an “essential” or “nonessential” business?

UPDATE: Carson City Health and Human Services clarified one item in the resolution regarding the number of cases. Carson City health officials have identified 1 positive case and the potential exposure of 14 ship passengers who have been repatriated who are being tracked.

MINDEN, Nev. — The Douglas County Board of Commissioners declared a local state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. The declaration has been submitted to the State of Nevada and will allow regional partners to speed up the delivery of resources required to more effectively aid in requesting additional resources, aid in recovery, and meet the needs of the community during a time of crisis.

The Lyon County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a Declaration of Emergency through Resolution 20-05 and a meeting Monday afternoon, according to County Manager Jeff Page.

There was one person who poke against the resolution. Lyon County staff will now begin implementing procedures to address the declaration.

YERINGTON — The Lyon County Board of Commissioners will be conducting an emergency meeting Monday at 4 p.m. to consider approving a Declaration of Emergency for Lyon County. The Declaration will provide Lyon County with the ability to:

Gov. Steve Sisolak has ordered temporary closures for schools across the state, the most drastic step yet taken by Nevada authorities to limit spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

UPDATE 4:06PM: Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) held a press conference Thursday afternoon regarding the first reported presumptive positive case of COVID-19, which is this first reported case in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

The patient is a woman in her 70s who recently traveled out of the state to San Jose and returned on March 2. She flew on an airplane into Reno-Tahoe International Airport while she was asymptomatic. The plane or airline she traveled with was not disclosed during the conference.

When disaster strikes, emergency response teams ramp up quickly to safeguard lives. Providing immediate shelter is often a first priority. In order to practice and ensure the safety of our residents, the Red Cross of Northern Nevada, in collaboration with emergency management from Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties, will set up two simulated shelters next month.

A three-day statewide public safety exercise, called Operation Silver Crucible 2019, began Tuesday and continues through Thursday around Nevada, including Carson City.

Over the weekend, Carson City’s Community Emergency Response Team program welcomed new and returning volunteers.

The program incorporates life-saving and decision-making skills in order to decrease injury and mortality; providing help when an unplanned disastrous event unfolds which has the potential to overwhelm the existing response capability. Volunteers focused on disaster preparedness, practiced fire suppression, emergency operations, search and rescue techniques, and response to terrorism.

The Community Emergency Response Team, also known as CERT, will host an academy to provide information for Carson City citizens on how to become prepared for a local emergency or disaster. Class time is 21 hours and includes light search and rescue, disaster medical operations and fire safety.

RENO — The U.S. Geological Survey has awarded more than $12.5 million to seven universities and a university-governed non-profit to support operation, improvement and expansion of the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system for the West Coast of the United States.

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced the appointment Tuesday of Stacey Montooth to the Nevada Indian Commission where she will serve as executive director beginning Sept. 1, 2019.

Capital City Arts Initiative’s relationship with Carson High School made it possible for Caleb Cage, a West Point graduate, U.S. Army veteran and author to visit with CHS students where he read one of his short stories from his 2017 book "Desert Mementos: Stories of Iraq and Nevada" and then fielded questions about writing and his background.

Hello Carson City as we head into Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 with the force of Monday's wind. Well, what can we say about what's ahead weather wise other than rain is likely down here in the valley but up at Lake Tahoe is another story. The Sierra once again braces for another series of winter storms that are expected to bring several feet of snow, again, through Thursday. Traveling in the mountains isn't advised but if you must, check in with NVRoads.com for the latest updates.

MINDEN — Douglas County has been responding to several reports of minor flooding in the Carson Valley. We have also seen water and minor debris on the roadways in many areas. Douglas County Emergency Management continues to survey the area along with Douglas County road crews and law enforcement.

Continued rain on melting snow has prompted the National Weather Service to issue an Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory on Thursday morning for Carson City, Douglas, Southern Washoe, Northern Lyon and Storey counties.

On Tuesday, February 26, the Capital City Arts Initiative will present a public event by writer Caleb Cage. Cage will read from his collection of short stories, "Desert Mementos: Stories of Iraq and Nevada." The event is part of CCAI’s ongoing Nevada Neighbors series and will take place at 6pm at the Brick, 108 E Proctor Street, Carson City.

There will be an informal reception for Cage preceding the event at 5:30pm. No tickets needed; the public is cordially invited.

Ryker is a three-year-old Spinone Italiano and Carson City native, and he is on his way to the Westminster Dog Show in New York as America's number one Spinone for 2018 with a handful of championship wins under his belt.

Local community members and organizations donated generously to Carson City Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels recipients this holiday season with gifts of personal necessities and nice-to-have items for the area’s senior population.