began to sway. Waking from a deep sleep, I tried to recall what my California relatives told me about what to do besides scream when the ground begins to rock and roll. I somehow managed to guide my family under tables and desks away from the windows. By the time we got there, the shaking had stopped. While Las Vegas has never been hit with an epic disaster, it has gotten a sampling of what Mother Nature can do. The foundation of the state’s argument against completing construction of Yucca Mountain was built on emphasizing that lingering doubt of “What if…” Disaster is fresh in our minds as a result of the stunning media coverage of the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear nail-
biting over the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power plant. After seeing the devastating consequences of cascading disasters in Japan, we have to be asking ourselves: Are we ready? Would Las Vegas be able to survive a cataclysm of biblical proportions? Carolyn Levering, manager of the city’s Office of Emergency Management, and Steve Moyer, director of corporate security for NV Energy, say they sleep well at night despite the potential for natural disaster or terrorism. I pitched a few disaster scenarios their way and they say a steady calendar of preparedness events keeps them on their toes and always thinking about how to stay sharp.
