What Natural Disasters Can Befall Las Vegas?

Do you think it’s time to address earthquakes, tornadoes, any bad natural events in Nevada?

Well, it's certainly timely, after the major earthquakes in the California Mojave last week, to run links to a couple of questions we've already answered on these subjects.

Note, however, that we can't cover the whole state. It's just too big to go into any detail and we reckon most people barely know where Eureka, Pioche, and Yerington are, let alone much care about possible disasters there. So this answer concerns Las Vegas.

First, earthquakes. In our QoD from 6/26/17, we wrote that though seismologists predict that an earthquake of 6.5-7 magnitude can hit Las Vegas someday, the likelihood is slim. They calculate a roughly 1-in-10 chance that a magnitude 6.0 earthquake — large enough to cause significant damage — will strike the valley in the next 50 years.

Second, extreme weather. You'll see in our QoD from 10/2/17 that winds can be extreme and though rare and weak, Las Vegas does see tornadoes. Also, temperatures have a range of more than 100 degrees. But the worst common weather event is flash floods.

Read all about both by clicking on the links.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Deke Castleman Jul-13-2019

this in via email from Jackie

You know that I live in Pahrump. 

Last week's earthquakes in California were felt here in Pahrump. First one, a 6.4, shook my home for about a minute. Second one, a 7.4, shook my home for 3 minutes, which did minor damage to my house and knocked out local electric power to my neighborhood.

I filed an online report for the second quake, which estimated a felt 4.4 locally.

Deke Castleman Jul-14-2019

this too

I follow events in Las Vegas since I go there once or twice a year.  The Las Vegas Police Dept has a great Disaster Prep plan in the case of really bad things happening. Read the after action review for the Mass Shooting that happened near Mandaly Bay  that was prepared by LVPD and you will see what I am talking about.

If there is a massive earthquake,  the unified command structure should go into action within a matter of minutes so everything is coordinated between fire, medical and police. People do this for a living. So even though the event may be bad with mass destruction and casualties the response will save a lot of lives and property.

I have always admired the professionalism of the LVPD. A top notch outfit.

Kevin Lewis Jul-14-2019

Something to worry about

Las Vegas authorities have always been greatly concerned about natural disasters because they can significantly impact casino revenue. The death tolls from such events are of little concern, unless the disaster happens on a Friday night, before all the tourists have been bled dry. The casinos have not yet devised a way to take money from dead people. And local hospitals have not yet installed slot machines.

Las Vegas may have a relatively low likelihood of seismic shocks, but any day, Big Elvis might fall out of bed, which would be at least 6.7 on the Richter scale.

Question of the Day - 14 July 2019

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