Lyon County emergency managers review earthquake response, pediatric-unit closure and preparedness supplies

Lyon County emergency officials used their April 15 Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting to review recent incident response and regional preparedness steps, with updates on earthquake response, hospital capacity and mass-casualty supplies.

Taylor Allison, Lyon County Emergency Manager, thanked agencies and volunteers for offers of help and check-ins after a recent earthquake and said she will invite the Seismological Lab to present to the committee about aftershocks, potential faults and expectations for future seismic activity.

Jim Rich of the American Red Cross described the Disaster Action Team’s role in responding to home fires and told the committee that "Lyon County is the busiest County in Northern Nevada in regards to home fires," urging residents to contact the Red Cross for assistance after fires.

Cari Rioux, preparedness planner with Carson City Health & Human Services, reported that Carson Tahoe Hospital closed its pediatric unit on April 12. She said Quad County jurisdictions are coordinating to purchase mass-casualty-incident (MCI) supplies and alpha MCI kits for all four counties and that those kits have already been ordered. Rioux also said partners are working on the Quad County Family Assistance Center Plan and advised committee members to monitor respiratory-illness activity following recent Pertussis cases in nearby jurisdictions.

Allison noted that federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness funds supported "Be Ready, Get Set, Go Now" billboards placed around western Nevada ahead of fire season and thanked public health partners for help spreading preparedness messaging.

The committee did not take formal action on these reports; members were informed of the updates and planned follow-up presentations and coordination.