Rain/Flooding Emergency Information – Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living

Nevada receives the lowest annual amount of precipitation of any state in the U.S., yet it experiences frequent and significant flooding. Luckily, the National Weather Service issues rain and flood watches and warnings. Pay attention to the local news and Weather.gov to prepare for and respond to dangerous conditions.

Quick Tips

If you’re under a flood warning, find shelter right away.
Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters.
Follow the advice of local public health officials.

Let’s Become Our Own First
Responders…Together

First responders will be on the scene after an emergency or disaster, but they won’t be able to reach everyone right away. As an older adult or someone living with a disability, you know your abilities and needs best. With preparation and the support of our communities, we can take proactive steps to become our own first responders…together.

Prepare

Before Heavy Rain/Flooding

Stay Safe

During Heavy Rain/Flooding

Recover

After Heavy Raid/Flooding

Additional Resources

The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.

Create a Support Network

Your support network should include two or more people who can help you prepare and check on you in case of a disaster or emergency like heavy Rain/flooding. It can be family members, friends, roommates, relatives, caregivers, co-workers, members of your place of worship, and neighbors. Don’t depend on only one person.

Give important keys to trusted support network members and show them where you keep emergency supplies.
Agree on and practice methods for contacting each other in an emergency. Have a back-up plan in case phones and the Internet aren’t working.
You and your personal support network should always notify each other about when you’re going out of town and when you’ll return.
Learn more and use this downloadable form to create a list of your people and their contact information.

Find emergency contact information for your county.

When a crisis occurs, local officials use a few methods to alert the public, including sending messages to your cell phone via text and voice, to your landline, and on TV, radio, and social media.
- Speak up and make sure TV stations have plans in place to broadcast all emergency information using closed captioning or other kinds of visual presentation, like open captioning, crawls, or scrolls that appear on the screen.
- Speak up and ask people at local TV news networks to announce important phone numbers slowly and repeat them frequently for people who cannot read the screen.
- Speak up and ask people at local TV news networks to announce important phone numbers slowly and repeat them frequently for people who cannot read the screen.
- Learn how to advocate for yourself.
- Text messages can be accompanied by a unique vibration attention signal (“cadence”) for accessibility. Make sure the accessibility settings on your mobile device are working.
Plan to monitor local weather and news on TV, radio and social media. If you have a smartphone, download the FEMA and Red Cross emergency apps.
The National Weather Service recommends having a weather radio in all homes. For those with visual or hearing impairments, you can add attachments like bed shakers or lighted text alerts to your weather radio.
Consider a call system, such as a medical alert bracelet, that can connect you with emergency services. Make sure your house or apartment number is visible so emergency responders can quickly locate your home.
Make sure your house or apartment number is visible so emergency responders can quickly locate your home.
If you’re able, connect with local community groups, such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTS), neighborhood watches, or houses of worship.
If you live in an assisted living community, talk with your community management about how you can prepare for and stay informed during a disaster.
If it’s difficult for you to follow the news and weather, have someone from your support network keep you updated.
Learn more about how to get help in an emergency with mobile apps and services from the American Foundation® of the Blind.

How to contact 911 if you’re deaf or hard of hearing:

Always contact 911 by making a voice call, if you can.
Text-to-911 is the ability to send a text message to reach 911 from your mobile phone or device.
Text-to-911 is only currently available in Clark and Washoe County. If it’s not available in your location, speak up and ask your local call center to accept texts.
You can also use a TTY or a telecommunications relay service, if possible.

Communication tips:

Know how to communicate with emergency personnel if there’s no interpreter or if you don’t have your hearing aids.
Store paper and pens where you can easily find them.
Use speech-to-text apps on your phone.
Carry a pre-printed card of important messages with you, such as:
- “I use American Sign Language (ASL) and need an ASL interpreter.”
- “If you make announcements, I will need to have them written or signed.”

Gather Emergency Supplies

Gather two weeks of supplies, including non-perishable food and water. If possible, have at least a 30-day supply of prescription medications and any medical equipment you might need. You can download and print this Emergency Supply Checklist.
Try to fill your prescriptions as early as you can. Some health plans allow for a 90-day refill on prescription medications. Consider discussing this option with your healthcare provider. Make a photocopy of prescriptions, as this may help in getting medications in an emergency.
Check out tips and resources for low- and no-cost preparedness. For those who can afford it, make essential purchases and slowly build up supplies.
If you have pets and/or service/support animals, be prepared with food, extra water, ID tags, veterinarian records, and other supplies they may need.
Have them microchipped. Make sure to keep your address and phone number updated and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
Create an emergency supply kit for your car or for the car of your driver. Include physical maps, a windshield scraper, jumper cables, emergency flares, a first aid kit, a flashlight, warm clothes, boots, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. Keep a full tank of gas when the forecast looks bad.
Keep your mobile devices and other communication equipment charged and buy back-up chargers/batteries.
Keep assistive devices and mobility aids (eyeglasses, hearing aids, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, fidget spinners, etc.) and spare batteries/power sources where you can easily find them.
Label assistive devices with your contact information in case they get separated from you. Plan how to replace them if they’re not working, lost, or destroyed.
Keep important documents and emergency information somewhere you can easily find them (list of emergency contact numbers, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.).
Include a list of your prescription medications. Include information about your diagnosis, dosage, frequency, medical supply needs, and allergies. Also include the names and contact information of your doctors.
Include copies of vital medical papers like insurance cards, Medicare cards, and power of attorney.

Wheelchair/Scooter Users

Keep a pair of heavy gloves in your supply kit to use while wheeling or making your way over debris.
Keep a small tool bag to repair any damage to the chair.
Buy a transfer board to help safely move you from your chair in unfamiliar environments.
Buy a portable air pump for tires. If your chair or scooter doesn’t have puncture-proof tires, keep a patch kit or can of “seal-in-air product” to repair flat tires, or keep an extra supply of inner tubes.
If you use a seat cushion on your wheelchair or scooter to protect your skin or maintain your balance, buy an extra cushion.
Purchase an extra battery if possible. Keep batteries charged at all times.
If you can’t purchase an extra battery, find out what agencies, organizations, or local charitable groups can help you buy one.
A car battery can be substituted for a wheelchair battery, but this type of battery will not last as long as a wheelchair’s deep-cycle battery. Check with your vendor to see if you’ll be able to charge batteries by either connecting jumper cables to a vehicle battery or by connecting batteries to a specific type of converter that plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter in the event of loss of electricity.
If you use a motorized wheelchair, have a lightweight manual wheelchair available as a back-up if possible.

In the event of a power outage

Items to purchase:

You may lose access to clean drinking water. Set aside at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day.
Buy security lights for each room and high-powered flashlights or battery-powered lanterns. Buy extra batteries.

Some medications require refrigeration:

Consider other methods to keep medications cool, like a portable cooler and chemical ice packs.
When the power is out for a day or more, throw away any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If a life depends on the refrigerated drugs, use them only until a new supply is available. Replace all refrigerated drugs as soon as possible.
Contact your pharmacist for more information.

Do you use electricity and/or battery dependent assistive technology and medical devices like adjustable beds and/or breathing machines?

Create a plan for back-up sources of power, like a battery or generator.
Read equipment instructions and talk to equipment suppliers or your doctor about your back-up power options.
Talk to your utility providers about your needs, especially for life-support devices (home dialysis, suction, breathing machines, etc.) in advance of a disaster.
Note that even if you are on the “priority reconnection service” list, your power could still be out for many days following a disaster. It’s vital that you have back-up power options for your equipment.
Contact NV Energy and let them know if you have an illness or disability. Many utility companies keep a “priority reconnection service” list and map of the locations of power-dependent customers for use in an emergency. Ask if this service is available.
Check with your vendor/supplier to find alternative ways to charge batteries, including connecting jumper cables to a vehicle battery or using a converter that plugs into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter or accessory outlet
Stored extra batteries require periodic charging even when they are unused. If your survival strategy depends on storing batteries, closely follow a recharging schedule.
When you have a choice, choose equipment that uses batteries that are easily purchased from nearby stores.
Generator Users: Make sure use of a generator is appropriate and realistic.
- A 2,000- to 2,500-watt gas-powered portable generator can power a refrigerator and several lamps. (A refrigerator needs to run only 15 minutes an hour to stay cool if you keep the door closed; you can unplug it to operate other devices.)
- Some generators can connect to the existing home wiring systems; always contact your utility company regarding critical restrictions and safety issues.
- Safely store fuel.
- Test your generator from time to time to make sure it will work when needed.
Teach trusted members of your support network how to operate your equipment and use your back-up systems.
Label all equipment with your name, address, and phone number. Attach simple and clear instruction cards to equipment and cover them with clear packing or mailing tape.
Keep copies of instructions for each piece of equipment, along with serial and model numbers, in a waterproof container.

When power is restored:

Check to make sure the settings on your medical devices have not changed (medical devices often reset to a default mode when the power goes out).

In A Disaster, People With Special Medical Needs Have Extra Concerns

Medical Disabilities:

Keep extras of any medical supplies you use, such as bandages, ostomy bags, and/or syringes.
Keep assistive items and mobility aids (medication organizers, oxygen/breathing and IV/feeding tube equipment, etc.) and spare batteries/power sources where you can easily find them.
Label assistive items with your contact information in case they get separated from you. Plan how to replace them if they’re not working, lost, or destroyed.

Ventilator Users:

Keep a resuscitation bag handy. The bag delivers air through a mask when squeezed.

Oxygen Users:

Have an emergency supply (enough for at least a two-week period).
Oxygen tanks should be securely braced so they don’t fall over. Call your medical supply company for bracing instructions.
If you use breathing equipment, have a two-week supply or more of tubing, solutions, and medications.
Check with your health care provider to see if you can use a reduced flow rate in an emergency to extend the life of the system. Label your equipment with the reduced flow numbers so that you can easily refer to them.

Intravenous (IV) and Feeding Tube Equipment:

Know if your infusion pump has battery back-up, and how long it would last in an emergency.
Have written operating instructions attached to all equipment.
Ask your home care provider about manual infusion techniques in case of a power outage.

Pack a Go Bag

Download and print the full Go Bag checklist.

Extreme heat may cause power outages, and you might have to evacuate. Keep essential emergency supplies in an easy-to-carry waterproof Go Bag that you can take with you. Keep your Go Bag somewhere you can easily find it.

Include your emergency contact list in a watertight container in your Go Bag and on your electronic devices.
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items (hearing aids, FM system, assistive listening devices, etc.). Include waterproof containers for hearing aids.
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items/mobility aids (eyeglasses, sunglasses, canes, screen readers, braille devices, etc.).
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items/mobility aids (wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, etc.).
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items (things you use every day, like computer or electrical devices to help with memory, attention, or other challenges in thinking skills).
To make a busy room more calm and comfortable, include:
- A pair of headphones (noise-canceling if possible)
- Handheld electronic devices, charged and loaded with videos and activities
- Comfort snacks
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items (medication organizers, noise canceling headphones, fidget spinners, etc.).
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items (medication organizers, oxygen/breathing and IV/feeding tube equipment, etc.). Don’t forget spare batteries/power sources.
Consider using a rolling suitcase for easy mobility. If you have a walker, wheelchair, or scooter, you may be able to attach your bag to it.
Include over-the-counter and prescription medicines and assistive items/mobility aids (eyeglasses, hearing aids, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc.).
Don’t forget spare batteries/power sources. Buy extras of these essential items or make a note to include them in the event of an emergency.
Include pre-printed communication cards, pens, and paper.
Once every 6 months, check that all items in your Go Bag are in good condition and medications or food haven’t expired.
Remember to make a Go Bag for your pets and/or service/support animals, too.

Download and print this Pets and/or Service/Support Animals Go Bag List.

Make an Emergency Plan

Think about your needs:

Store hearing aid(s) and external speech processor(s) for your implants where you can easily find them after a disaster. You could keep them in a container and attach the container to a nightstand or bedpost. Missing or damaged hearing devices will be difficult to replace or fix immediately after a major disaster.
Dog guide users should keep cane skills sharpened: in a disaster, your dog may become lost, injured, or traumatized, and may not be able to help you.
In the event of a power outage, discuss how your support network and/or neighbors can assist you if you need to evacuate.
- If you spend time above the first floor of a building with an elevator, plan and practice using alternative methods of evacuation.
In the event of a power outage, discuss how your support network and/or neighbors can assist you if you need to evacuate.
- If you spend time above the first floor of a building with an elevator, plan and practice using alternative methods of evacuation.
- If you can’t use stairs, discuss lifting and carrying techniques that will work for you, e.g., two-person cradle carry, office chair evacuation, or, if available, use an evacuation chair.
- If you’re a wheelchair user, show your support network how to assemble, disassemble, and operate your wheelchair.
- Be prepared to give quick instructions on the best way to move you.
Write your emergency plan on a piece of paper. Keep it with you and at places where you spend a lot of your time. Make sure it’s easy to read and understand. Think about the things you’ll need to do before, during, and after an emergency and how you can do them. Plan to put important items like your ID or house keys in a small bag that you can hang around your neck, so you don’t lose them.
Practice what to do during an emergency. Be sure to include your pets and/or service/support animals. Practice leaving places you spend your time until you feel confident that you will know what to do if there’s an emergency.
Create a safety plan for your mental health. The plan should include clear steps to follow when you’re in crisis.
- Think about the reactions you may have in an emergency or disaster. You may be confused, feel anxious or panicky, or have problems sleeping. Plan how you’ll deal with your emotions.
- You can use DIY coping strategies. You can also make a plan to reach out to your support network and/or therapist.
- Sometimes off-duty therapists are open to a phone call during an urgent situation, while other times they might be unreachable.
- If you won’t be able to contact your usual therapist in an emergency, be sure to include the contact details for a back-up provider.
If you receive dialysis, chemotherapy, or other life-sustaining medical treatments, ask your healthcare provider for their plans in an emergency and where you should go or what you should do for treatment if your usual clinic isn’t available during or after an emergency like a blizzard.
In the event of a power outage, discuss how your support network and/or neighbors can assist you if you need to evacuate.
- If you spend time above the first floor of a building with an elevator, plan and practice using alternative methods of evacuation.
- If you can’t use stairs, discuss lifting and carrying techniques that will work for you, e.g., two-person cradle carry, office chair evacuation, or, if available, use an evacuation chair.
- If you’re a wheelchair user, show your support network how to assemble, disassemble, and operate your wheelchair.
- Be prepared to give quick instructions on the best way to move you.
Consult a doctor. Hearing and visual challenges can have a big impact on your ability to respond to emergencies. If you haven’t recently (or ever) addressed your hearing or vision loss, consider hearing aids and glasses.
In the event of a power outage, discuss how your support network and/or neighbors can assist you if you need to evacuate.
- If you spend time above the first floor of a building with an elevator, plan and practice using alternative methods of evacuation.
- If you can’t use stairs, discuss lifting and carrying techniques that will work for you, e.g., two-person cradle carry, office chair evacuation, or, if available, use an evacuation chair.
- If you’re a wheelchair user, show your support network how to assemble, disassemble, and operate your wheelchair.
- Be prepared to give quick instructions on the best way to move you.
Check out emergency preparedness tips for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Plan ahead for accessible transportation. Transportation, like buses, may not be running normally. Check with local transit providers as well as with your support network to identify appropriate accessible options. You can also receive transportation assistance through Nevada 211 or learn more by contacting us at the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living.
Get your benefits electronically. A disaster can delay mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switch to electronic payments. It’s an easy way to protect yourself financially before disaster strikes.

Understand Your Flood Risk:

Nevada has a long history of flooding, from major winter floods to summer flash floods. Flash floods can be sudden and violent. You may have little to no warning. Visit the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and search for your home using your address. Other considerations:

Plan an evacuation route away from your home and alternate routes in case the first route is closed or threatened by flooding. Know the evacuation plans for work and school.
Remove any obstacles (inside and outside) that might keep you from escaping through windows and doors.
Hold a drill with your community. If something is noticed that would make it hard to leave during an evacuation, such as a locked gate, deal with it right away.
Make sure everyone in your household understands what to do if you need to quickly evacuate. Include your children.

Strengthen Your Home:

You might need help from your support network. If you aren’t the property owner, speak up and ask the owner to put the following tips in place.
Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.
Buy Flood Insurance: Homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover flooding. It typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect, so the time to buy is well before a disaster. Consider geting flood coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Plan for Evacuation

Plan an evacuation route away from your home and alternate routes in case the first route is closed or threatened by wildfire. Know the evacuation plans for work and school.
Store hearing aid(s) and external speech processor(s) for your implants where you can easily find them
Create a plan with a driver or find out in advance what your community’s plans are for evacuating those without private transportation.
Remove any obstacles (inside and outside) that might keep you from escaping through windows and doors.
Hold a drill with your community. If something is noticed that would make it hard to leave during an evacuation, such as a locked gate, deal with it right away.
Make sure everyone in your household understands what to do if you need to quickly evacuate. Include your children.
- Check out these 8 tips for teaching fire safety to kids who are blind.
Practice your evacuation plan with your pets and/or service animal.
Help firefighters help your pets and/or service animals. Get a pet alert window cling, write down the number of pets inside your home, and place it on a front window.
Speak up to those in charge and make sure you and other people who are blind or have low vision can read emergency, safety, and informational signs in your buildings at home and work; if not, advocate for accommodations.
Consider installing tactile cues, like raised dots or tape, along escape routes and around doors and windows. These cues can help you locate important exits and avoid obstacles.

If you’re under a flood warning:

Find safe shelter right away.
Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
Contact your healthcare provider If you’re sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
Pay attention to alerts and updates for emergency information and instructions regarding flooding.
Stay inside your car if it is trapped in rapidly moving water. If you can, get on the roof if water is rising inside the car.
Get to the highest level if trapped in a building. Only get on the roof if necessary, and once there, signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater.

If You’re Forced To Evacuate

Take your Go Bag.
Evacuate your pets and/or service/support animals, too.
- They may become confused, frightened, or disoriented during and after a disaster. Keep collars on them, and do your best to keep them securely leashed or harnessed.
Evacuation with a wheelchair:
- Let your support network (or people close by who can help) know how you would like to be assisted.
- If you’re on the ground floor, you may choose to evacuate with minimal assistance.
- Evacuation Chair(s): Know if an evacuation chair is available in the building, its location, and how to operate it.
- Carrying Wheelchair Users: Most wheelchairs are too heavy to carry downstairs manually, so if you want to be carried down the stair(s) (without your wheelchair), let the people helping you know about the best carry options (two-person cradle carry, office chair evacuation, or, if available, use an evacuation chair).
Evacuation with a wheelchair:
- Let your support network (or people close by who can help) know how you would like to be assisted.
- If you’re on the ground floor, you may choose to evacuate with minimal assistance.
- Evacuation Chair(s): Know if an evacuation chair is available in the building, its location, and how to operate it.
- Carrying Wheelchair Users: Most wheelchairs are too heavy to carry downstairs manually, so if you want to be carried down the stair(s) (without your wheelchair), let the people helping you know about the best carry options (two-person cradle carry, office chair evacuation, or, if available, use an evacuation chair).
Your first plan should be to stay with family or friends; they can accommodate you, your pets and/or service/support animals, and help you be most comfortable in a stressful situation.
If your only option is an emergency shelter, check with local authorities for the latest information about shelters.
- When you arrive at an emergency shelter, speak up and ask the shelter manager if they can meet your care needs.
Inform members of your support network of your location and status.

Tell First Responders About Your Disability

Know how to communicate with emergency personnel if there’s no interpreter or if you don't have your hearing aids.

Store paper and pens where you can easily find them.
Use speech-to-text apps on your phone.
Carry a pre-printed card of important messages with you, such as:
- "I use American Sign Language (ASL) and need an ASL interpreter."
- "If you make announcements, I will need to have them written or signed."