Are you emergency prepared?

By Andrea Domanick

Monday, May 25, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Southern Nevada may not be prone to tornadoes and blizzards, but there still are plenty of reasons to make sure you and your family are prepared in case of an emergency. If disaster strikes, would you know what to do? Here’s what you need to be prepared:

Have a plan

Talking to your family about how to prepare for a disaster is a crucial step to ensuring their safety in an emergency.

■ Pick two meeting places, one for a sudden emergency (a spot outside your house in case of a fire, for example) and one in case you or other family members can’t return home. For those situations, choose a location with a known address and phone number outside your neighborhood.

■ Plan transportation for children or people who may not have access to a car.

■ Pick an out-of-state family contact. It can be a family member or a friend. In an emergency situation, it’s often easier to reach someone outside the affected area. Family members should call the person to update their status and location. Make sure every member of your family knows the contact’s information.

Keep emergency contacts on hand

Police/fire/medical emergencies: 911

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue headquarters (nonemergency number): 702-383-2888

Emergency management

Las Vegas: 702-229-6501

Clark County: 702-455-5710

Henderson: 702-267-2212

North Las Vegas: 702-633-1125

Las Vegas emergency hotline:

702-382-5378

Emergency road conditions:

1-877-687-6237

Federal Bureau of Investigation:

702-385-1281

American Red Cross:

702-791-3311

Flood Hotline:

702-455-5195

Southern Nevada Health District:

702-759-1000

Las Vegas Valley Water District:

702-870-2011

NV Energy (to report outage or emergency): 702-402-2900

Southwest Gas Company (emergency): 702-365-1111

Keep track of important documents

Store copies of important personal and family documents in a portable waterproof container. Include the following:

■ Will

■ Deeds

■ Passports, Social Security cards

■ Important telephone numbers

■ Immunization records

■ Bank account numbers

■ Credit card account numbers and companies

■ Insurance policies, inventory of valuable household goods

■ Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

Prepare an emergency kit + a go bag

Entertainment

Store playing cards or board games to help pass the time and take people’s minds off the situation.

The Southern Nevada Health District recommends preparing a disaster supply kit with enough items to sustain your family for three to seven days. In addition, keep a separate “go bag” handy in case of evacuation. A go bag is a smaller version of your disaster supply kit that you can grab easily and take with you in case you need to leave your home. Store the items in something portable, such as a camping backpack, duffel bag or light storage container, and keep one go bag at home and one in the trunk of your car.

Both your go bag and home disaster supply kit should be stocked with six basic items at all times:

Water

Three gallons per person

One gallon of water per person per day — two quarts for drinking, two for sanitation. Keep at least a three-day supply per person. Children, seniors, nursing mothers and people who are ill will need more, so store extra if they are part of your household.

Store water in sturdy plastic or metal containers. Avoid containers that can break or decompose, such as glass or cartons.

Food

Three-day supply per person

Choose foods that are nonperishable and easy to store, meaning they require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking.

The Southern Nevada Health District recommends a selection of the following:

■ Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables

■ Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)

■ Sugar, salt, pepper

■ High-energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix

■ Vitamins

■ Food for infants, elderly people or people on special diets

■ Comfort foods such as cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags

First-aid supplies

One kit in your home and one per vehicle

Each kit should include the following:

■ Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes

■ 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

■ 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

■ Hypoallergenic adhesive tape

■ Triangular bandages (3)

■ 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

■ 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

■ Scissors

■ Tweezers

■ A needle

■ Moistened towelettes

■ Antiseptic

■ Thermometer

■ Tongue blades (2)

■ Petroleum jelly or other lubricant

■ Assorted sizes of safety pins

■ Soap

■ Latex gloves (2 pairs)

■ Sunscreen

■ Aspirin or pain reliever

■ Anti-diarrhea medication

■ Antacid

■ Laxative

■ Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

■ A basic first-aid manual (available at your local Red Cross)

Clothing and bedding

One full outfit per person

Include one complete change of clothing and footwear per person, plus something to sleep on.

Recommended items:

■ Sturdy shoes or work boots

■ Rain gear

■ Blankets or sleeping bags

■ Hat and gloves

■ Thermal underwear

■ Sunglasses

Tools and emergency supplies

Keep the following in a toolbox or portable container:

■ Mess kits or paper cups and plates and plastic utensils

■ Emergency preparedness manual

■ Battery-operated radio and extra batteries

■ Flashlight and extra batteries

■ Cash or traveler’s checks, change

■ Nonelectric can opener, utility knife

■ Fire extinguisher (small canister, ABC type)

■ Tube tent

■ Pliers

■ Tape

■ Compass

■ Matches in a waterproof container

■ Aluminum foil

■ Plastic storage containers

■ Signal flare

■ Paper, pencil

■ Needles, thread

■ Medicine dropper

■ Whistle

■ Plastic sheeting

■ Map of the area (for locating shelters)

Keep a separate kit for sanitary supplies:

■ Toilet paper (one roll for every two people)

■ Soap, liquid detergent

■ Feminine supplies

■ Personal hygiene items

■ Plastic garbage bags with ties (to dispose of waste)

■ Plastic bucket with tight lid

■ Disinfectant

■ Chlorine bleach

Special items

Remember to store items for family members with special needs, such as infants, seniors, disabled people and people with illnesses.

For babies:

■ Formula

■ Diapers

■ Bottles

■ Powdered milk

■ Medications

For adults:

■ Daily and emergency medications (ex. heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin)

■ Other prescription drugs

■ Dentures and supplies

■ Contact lenses and supplies

■ Extra eyeglasses

Don’t forget to plan for your pets

Be sure to store items for your pet in your main emergency supply kit. Include food stored in a sturdy container (the Southern Nevada Health District recommends dry, unappealing food to prevent overeating), medications, a large-capacity self-feeder and water dispenser, and kitty litter.

Some shelters or veterinary offices may take care of pets in an emergency, but many emergency shelters refuse animals, so determine a safe place in your home to leave your pet if needed. Avoid choosing a room with windows, which could break, or with items that could fall on your pet. If possible, select a room with high counters or tall furniture that a pet can jump on in case of flooding. Set up separate locations for dogs and cats.

If you do have to leave your pet, leave familiar items such as toys and bedding, along with a three-day supply of dry food and water in sturdy containers the pet can’t overturn.