[redwhale]

So all this talk of flash flooding this weekend got me thinking, "Where would I go in the event of a real disaster in Vegas?".

It got me thinking about the utter remoteness of this town and the possible avenues of escape of a major metro area that is truly isolated in many respects. I understand some of you probably thought this through and want to keep it to yourselves. For the rest of us, though, I wonder what we could do if all the major arteries are severed in the event of a major earthquake? Let's say both 15 and 515 are undrivable, even the old Las Vegas Blvd which runs parallel for a bit. 93/Hoover Dam is out, even if the dam survives, the nearby roads will surely be boulder blocked. If you have less than half a tank of gas, what options do you have if there's no power?

How would you get out of this town to safety and resources?

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by redwhale

So all this talk of flash flooding this weekend got me thinking, "Where would I go in the event of a real disaster in Vegas?".

It got me thinking about the utter remoteness of this town and the possible avenues of escape of a major metro area that is truly isolated in many respects. I understand some of you probably thought this through and want to keep it to yourselves. For the rest of us, though, I wonder what we could do if all the major arteries are severed in the event of a major earthquake? Let's say both 15 and 515 are undrivable, even the old Las Vegas Blvd which runs parallel for a bit. 93/Hoover Dam is out, even if the dam survives, the nearby roads will surely be boulder blocked. If you have less than half a tank of gas, what options do you have if there's no power?

How would you get out of this town to safety and resources?

You bend way over, place your head between your legs, and kiss...well you know the rest.

Seriously, I've been thinking about that since the 60's when a Mormon fundamentalist I was working with kept telling me everyday about the holocaust that was coming on 6/6/66. He was putting every penny he earned into canned goods, Geiger counters, cows, and whatever survival equipment he could find. He had a whole group of followers doing the same thing, and he said they had a place up in Utah where they were going to hide out in a mountain but he wouldn't tell me where. He said that a just before it started there would be a story in the paper about the commander of the Mediterranean fleet, and that this commander would set off a nuclear war after the story appeared. About two weeks before 6/6/66 he quit the job and went to Utah. A few days later there was a story in the paper about the commander of the Mediterranean fleet. I had been laughing about how nutty he was until then, but I had an old 1949 Willy's Jeep at the time, and I started planning to take my wife and daughter and go to Utah to look for these people, hoping they would take us in. I was looking for anything I could find to fill with water because I figured we could live for a long time without much food but the water would be contaminated. I was getting nervous but of course when 6/6/66 came and went and nothing happened I decided I was right about him being nuts. He showed up about six months later and told me there had been an error in the calendars and they were trying to re-figure the correct present date.

Anyway, get a 4x4 and load it with water and take the dirt roads. You can travel anywhere in the state on dirt roads. Or you could just chill like I have.

[YogaMom]

"How would you get out of this town to safety and resources?"

BACKSTROKE

[returnoftheyeti]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

He was putting every penny he earned into canned goods, Geiger counters, cows, and whatever survival equipment he could find.

Cows ?

Awesome.

So when the world ends my plan is actually to go up to one of the Casinos on the strip and camp out. Or maby Green Valley Ranch. Wait until most of the tourist have flipped out and killed them selves, then camp out. There must be enough canned goods and food to survive for years in one of those places. Plus everything else you would need to survive forever. Guns and ammo in the security rooms, gas in the maintenance rooms, generators, decks of cards so you don't get bored.

Just stay away from the strip during the Steel rain and for about 2 weeks while everyone is freaking out. Then grab a gun, go up to the strip, barricade yourself inside the MGM, and declare yourself Emperor.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by redwhale

So all this talk of flash flooding this weekend got me thinking, "Where would I go in the event of a real disaster in Vegas?".

It got me thinking about the utter remoteness of this town and the possible avenues of escape of a major metro area that is truly isolated in many respects. I understand some of you probably thought this through and want to keep it to yourselves. For the rest of us, though, I wonder what we could do if all the major arteries are severed in the event of a major earthquake? Let's say both 15 and 515 are undrivable, even the old Las Vegas Blvd which runs parallel for a bit. 93/Hoover Dam is out, even if the dam survives, the nearby roads will surely be boulder blocked. If you have less than half a tank of gas, what options do you have if there's no power?

How would you get out of this town to safety and resources?

Not particularly remote. The same problem with most of the cities in the inland SW. Most are dependent on a limited number of highways. If you project a catastrophe big enough to cut them all it gets messy. Then again there are a least five ways out of Las Vegas...and more if you are really motivated.

The two big ones here would be to lose electric or water for an extended period. I would think it more rational to stay put and let the recovery people get to you. Might be good to follow a bit of the mormon thing and have at least a couple of weeks of drinking water and canned fool.

It is actually difficult to think of a catastrophe that would isolate LV. If an earthquake was to cut off the area I think you would be talking an 8 or a 9. In that event there may be no where to run to...

[verynicebecky]

Just stay put. The FEMA trailers will eventually be brought in.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by verynicebecky

Just stay put. The FEMA trailers will eventually be brought in.

Better to just stick yer head under the water and end it all.

[jpk]

I think you might be overly paranoid about the natural disaster threat to Las Vegas. A more practical question is what will Vegas do if there is a major quake in southern CA? Where will the flood of refugees from CA into Vegas go?

[dynimagelv]

First we put up a toll gate at stateline.

[redwhale]

I think you might be overly paranoid about the natural disaster threat to Las Vegas. A more practical question is what will Vegas do if there is a major quake in southern CA? Where will the flood of refugees from CA into Vegas go?

In my defense, there are multiple fault lines under our fair city. It's not just an alarmist view, I just want to be prepared is all.

As to olecapt's point, I think we're more remote than other SW cities. There are plenty of small outlying cities that could aid in event of a true disaster in regards to San Diego and LA. Our population would devastate Baker, Searchlight, and Moapa (just to name a few) in a hurry and we'd still have miles further to go to other areas that could support us, and that's if you are fortunate enough to have a full tank of gas.

I have awakened to the realities of a CA disaster, though. In the event that happens in SoCal I will prepare for the flood of people heading our direction for supplies that will not easily be replenished and it may be something all of us should be prepared for.