Preparedness

RENO — With much of the State of Nevada listed as in extreme drought, Nevadans are facing forecasts for a mild winter, with little precipitation since the rainy season started. With these designations, southern Nevadans are facing a mild and dry winter and northern Nevadans are looking at an uncertain forecast. All could face water restrictions, crop or pasture loss and, with exceptional drought, water shortage emergencies.

RENO — The American Red Cross of Northern Nevada is seeking volunteers to join its Disaster Action Team, serving Carson City and surrounding communities in the Carson Valley and other areas of Douglas County.

Carson City Health and Human Services announced last week that vaccinations would be moving into Tier 2 beginning on Monday, Jan. 11 starting with educators and daycare providers.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has begun closing recreational facilities for the winter season. Seasonal closures apply to many National Forest recreation sites in the Tahoe Basin including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and forest roads.

UPDATE MONDAY: The Carson City Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting this Thursday, 1 p.m. to discuss and take possible action regarding the appointment of a person to fill an anticipated vacancy in the office of Ward 3 Supervisor on the Board of Supervisors for a term that begins Jan. 4, 2021 and ends Jan. 1, 2023.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Department of Public Safety Director George Togliatti has appointed David Fogerson as Administrator of the DPS, Division of Emergency Management. Fogerson’s appointment is effective Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Health care workers, first responders and lab employees will be among the first in Nevada to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, according to a draft of the state’s vaccination plan released Monday.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public and Behavioral Health announced Friday the submission of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Playbook for Statewide Operations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS), State Fire Marshal Division, has selected the fourth annual State of Nevada Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest winners.

Today, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced that he will be issuing an Emergency Directive lifting restrictions on youth and adult sports and adjusting the COVID-19 statewide guidance on sports.

With 675 fires having burned 235,751 acres in Nevada so far this year, and wildfires continuing to threaten homes and lives across the West, next week University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program wraps up its five-part virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

NV Energy said Thursday it is canceling plans to shut off electric power lines Friday as part of a public safety outage management event in Incline Village due to improved weather conditions and an updated forecast.

With gusty winds expected to arrive in the Carson City area, northern Sierra Front and Lake Tahoe region, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag fire weather warning Thursday afternoon through Friday evening.

With 642 fires having burned 229,409 acres in Nevada so far this year, and wildfires continuing to threaten homes and lives across the West, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program continues its virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

Gusty winds and low humidity ahead has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning from noon Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday for northern and western Nevada, including the Reno, Carson City, Carson Valley and Lyon County region, as well as the Lake Tahoe Basin and the eastern Sierra.

UPDATE 3:05PM: Areas of smoke and haze from wildfires will persist into Monday with improved conditions expected Monday night through Wednesday, forecasters say. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, from 1 p.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Tuesday for much of the Carson City region.
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After a night washed out with a deep sepia haze resulting from the Creek Fire burning in the southern Sierra, the dense smoke that made its way into northern and western Nevada Saturday night that caused degraded air quality throughout the region now appears to be lifting, according to the National Weather Service.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) reminds residents and visitors that recreational fires, including campfires, bonfires, warming fires, wood fires, charcoal fires, or any other kind of outdoor fires, involving solid fuels are not permitted on public or private property including residential properties, vacation/short-term rentals, campgrounds, resorts and other recreational areas throughout the Lake Tahoe/Truckee Region until the end of November or until rescinded.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management, Nevada National Guard and Division of Public and Behavioral Health are partnering to participate in National Preparedness Month to encourage the public to plan for emergencies. Each week an agency will be promoting a variety of awareness and preparedness tips to help keep Nevadans safe. This year’s theme is “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.”

Drier and much warmer air will work its way into Northern Nevada and the Carson City area Wednesday, bringing gusty winds and low humidity with it, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for much of the region.

Gusty winds, low humidity and the threat of thunderstorms have prompted the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a Fire Weather Watch for Carson City, Carson Valley and much of the Northern Sierra Front beginning Tuesday afternoon and extending into Wednesday evening.

Stacey Giomi, Ward 1 Supervisor, former Fire Chief, and Regional Director of Operations for Rural Programs and Director of Facilities & Emergency Preparedness at Nevada Health Centers, will be the featured speaker at Monday's Carson City Democratic Men's Committee's tele-luncheon. Nevada Health Centers is a state-wide organization that provides medical and dental care to over 50,000 low-income, uninsured, underinsured and geographically isolated residents of Nevada. It is the largest community health center in Nevada, with locations in seven different Nevada counties.

Afternoon winds will be a touch stronger Sunday and Monday around the Carson City region compared to the last few days, according to the National Weather Service, but not strong enough to warrant any watches or warnings at this time.

Critical fire weather conditions are expected Sunday afternoon across Carson City and much of the Sierra Front region with the worst conditions likely for locations north of Highway 50 in western Nevada, according to the National Weather Service.

Gusty winds and low humidity around Carson City, the Lake Tahoe Basin and throughout western and northern Nevada has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for Monday afternoon through evening.

While cooler temperatures are in the mix with the arrival of a cold front Sunday, continued windy conditions and low humidity will persist throughout much of northern Nevada, creating critical fire conditions and forcing the continuation of a Red Flag warning by the National Weather Service.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Education on Wednesday released guidance to provide flexibility and ensure transparency as Nevada’s school districts and charter schools are developing plans to reopen for the 2020-21 school year.

The Nevada Division of Emergency Management is pleased to name Cassandra Darrough as DEM's Tribal Coordinator, helping with emergency management support for Nevada’s 27 federally-recognized Tribal Nations in close collaboration with Nevada Indian Commission.

Governor Steve Sisolak received notification from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program Commission that the State of Nevada has achieved reaccreditation. This achievement was approved through a rigorous and voluntary assessment process coordinated through the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management, Homeland Security. The State was notified of the approval last week.

Strong gusty winds and low humidity around the Carson City region has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning on Monday from noon to 8 p.m.

RENO — With wildland fires eating up the forests and rangelands of Nevada each summer, and fire season now upon us, University of Nevada, Reno scientists are examining how drought, climate change and land management will affect future fire activity and how fires can in turn influence plant, soil and hydrologic processes.