Office of Emergency Management
Carson City Fire Chief Bob Schreihans cautions residents and visitors about what he fears could be a “catastrophic fire season” after four consecutive years of severe drought.
With record-breaking temperatures, gusty winds and lightning anticipated for the next several days, residents should be prepared as well as visitors to the Carson City area, Schreihans said.
If there comes a time when you have to evacuate your house, an emergency probably won’t give you enough time to gather essentials and take steps to limit property damage. Chief Schreihans believes preparing now, before disaster, is the best course of action.
Prepare Now:
— Have a grab-and-go kit Include essential supplies, such as water, food, and first-aid supplies. Make a video of your home and all belongings, talking about each
— Prepare a list of valuables to take with you (store together, if possible)
— Have copies of important papers
— (Your driver’s license, proof of insurance, medical records, passports, deed to your house, etc)
— Prescriptions
— Pictures and memento’s o List of personal contacts
— Cash
— Personal Computer
— Safeguard pets! Make sure they’re micro-chipped and have I.D. collars. Create pet grab-and-go kits that include leashes, medications, meal bowls, and three days’ worth of food and water.
— Shut off gas at the meter
— Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions
— Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave
Important Things to Remember
Whether the order is voluntary or mandatory, if officials tell you to evacuate, you should do so before things get worse. Failure to follow an evacuation order can place your life in danger by leaving you stranded in an area with no basic services or food and water.
Stay Informed with Emergency Alerts
Carson City utilizes an emergency communication network CodeRED. CodeRED allows Carson City officials to telephone all or targeted areas of the City in case of an emergency situation requiring immediate action, such as an evacuation, contaminated water, hazardous chemical spill, etc. This system is capable of dialing the entire county within minutes, delivering a pre-recorded message describing the situation, including instructions on any actions needed to remain safe.
To update your contact information, to include cell phone and text messaging, go to ecenetwork.com and click
on the Resident Enrollment tab and include contact phone numbers and physical residential address.
Communication and Separation
If your neighborhood has been evacuated and cell service is not working, where would you meet up with your family? Agree on a meeting place in the City as well as out of town where family members can gather should you be unable to go home.
Identify a family member or friend who lives out-of-state who can act as a central contact for household members to notify that they are safe. It may be easier to make an out-of-town call than to get a local connection. Be sure that every member of your family knows the phone number of that contact person.
More Information
More information and ideas on how to prepare can be found at CarsonFire.org or Ready.gov. Chief Schreihans says “With this weekend’s weather predications and the 4th of July around the corner a little planning and common sense will help you become better prepared for the unexpected. Be safe!”
