Elko County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners
Sheri Eklund-Brown
John Ellison
Charlie Myers
Mike Nannini
Warren Russell
Elko County Manager
Robert K. Stokes
STATE OF NEVADA, )
COUNTY OF ELKO. ) ss.
FEBRUARY 21, 2008
The Board of Elko County Commissioners met in an emergency session on
Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 10:30 p.m., in the Elko County Manager’s Office
at 569 Court Street, Elko, Nevada.
There were present:
County Commissioners
ABSENT
Elko Co. Manager
CFO/Asst. Manager
Deputy District Attorney
Deputy County Clerk
Emergency Management
Assessor
Rich Harvey
Dale Lotspeich
Rusty Tybo
Mike Nannini, Chair
John Ellison
Charlie Myers
Sheri Eklund-Brown
Warren Russell
Robert Stokes
Cash Minor
Kristin McQueary
Marilyn Tipton
William Webb
Joe Aguirre
NDF Incident Commander
Sheriff
Wells City Mayor
--The proceedings were as follows:
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Nannini called the emergency meeting to order at 1:35 p.m.
Chairman Nannini telephonically reported that he was in Wells and asked
those present at the table in Elko to introduce themselves for the record:
Commissioner Russell, Commissioner Ellison, and Commissioner Myers. He
asked those at the table in Wells to introduce themselves for the record: Richard
Harvey, NDF Incident Commander for the Wells Earthquake; Sheriff, Dale
Lotspeich; Wells City Mayor, Rusty Tybo; Robert Stokes, Elko County Manager;
ELKO COUNTY COMMISSION
EMERGENCY SESSION
FEBRUARY 21, 2008
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and Commissioner Nannini. Chairman Nannini asked that the remaining staff
present in the Elko County Manager’s Office introduce themselves for the record:
Cash Minor, Assistant County Manager; Kristin McQueary, Deputy District
Attorney; Marilyn Tipton, Deputy Clerk; and Bill Webb, Emergency Management.
I.
WELLS CITY EARTHQUAKE REPORT:
Richard Harvey reported that about 6:16 a.m. this morning an earthquake hit
the City of Wells. He stated that they activated an emergency response for Elko
County and sent an alert to all emergency responders in State and locally. He
stated Dale Lotspeich and he implemented a unified command system. Richard
Harvey stated he assumed the role of Incident Commander about 9:00 a.m.
Richard Harvey reported that the main destruction from the quake was in the
historical section of the City on Front Street between 6th and 7th Streets. He stated
that there were twenty to twenty-three buildings damaged in that area. He noted
half were occupied. He commented that there were only three significant injuries:
a broken arm, a head injury that required stitches and one elderly person that had
difficulty with breathing and required treatment. He stated there were a lot of
people that were shaken from the incident and there were lots of cuts and bruises.
Richard Harvey reported that there were a lot of chimneys down all over town. He
stated the fire crews responded to the calls and found that most of them were due
to the smoke when the chimneys went down. He stated there had not been any
fires so far. Richard Harvey stated that there three major breaks in the water line.
He noted at one time they were losing 2,300 gallons per minute. Rusty Tybo
stated that his Public Works Director had just reported they believed they had
those leaks contained. Richard Harvey noted there were a lot of propane leaks in
the district. He stated that the firefighters were assessing those propane leaks
and if necessary evacuating the citizens. He commented that U.S. Highway 93
and Interstate 80 were open for traffic. However, the public was being notified that
Wells was closed to tourism. Richard Harvey stated that there were evacuation
centers established at the Fire Station and LDS Church. They have asked that
the people of Wells check in at the Fire Station so they can be accounted for. He
commented that there were some engineering staff coming from the City of Elko,
Wells City and Elko County to evaluate the structural damages in the buildings.
Richard Harvey noted there was a crack in the beam of the LDS Church and they
would have that evaluated before they evacuated people to that center. Sheriff
Lotspeich stated there were responders traveling to Montello to report on the
damage in that area. He stated there were reports that some buildings had
collapsed. Sheriff Lotspeich commented that their goal was to assess the damage
and document it.
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FEBRUARY 21, 2008
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Mayor Tybo thanked everyone for the support they were receiving and
encouraged continued cooperative assistance. He asked what the County’s plans
were at this time.
Robert Stokes reported that there were County personnel in the area. The
County Building Inspectors were assessing the structural damage to the buildings.
He reported that the County Public Works Department was working in cooperation
with the Wells Public Works Department to help with the water leaks. He stated
there was Administration staff on their way to help. He stated the County Road
Department personnel were in Wells also. Robert Stokes noted that the other
County Departments were also assisting in this emergency situation.
Commissioner Ellison voiced concern for the residents in Clover Valley,
Starr Valley, etc. Sheriff Lotspeich stated that NDF had called all their Volunteer
Fire Departments in the surrounding communities and requested that they do an
initial assessment of damages in their areas. He had not received any significant
reports from the outlying communities at this time.
Commissioner Myers voiced concern with using the LDS Church if there was
a crack in a support beam. Richard Harvey stated that it was reported there were
several bricks loose but the Church had stated it was okay. He would not put
people in there until the engineering inspectors had assessed the structure.
Commissioner Myers stated the Elko County Convention and Visitor’s
Authority was available to anyone in Wells that needs it. Sheriff Lotspeich stated
the original evacuation center designated for Wells was the High School but there
was significant damage to that facility.
Commissioner Nannini reported that most of the businesses were shut down
at this time. He stated no services were being offered and there was no fuel being
pumped.
Commissioner Nannini inquired if the City of Wells could join in the County’s
Declaration of Emergency or did they have to do their own. William Webb would
research that but felt they could join the County’s Declaration. He had made a call
and arranged for food for this evening for the evacuees. William Webb reported
that Carson City had activated their EOC Center so everything would be worked
through that within the next thirty minutes.
II.
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY:
The Board considered adoption of a DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
2008 EARTHQUAKE, entitled: a RESOLUTION OF THE ELKO COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS DECLARING A DISASTER DUE TO AN EARTHQUAKE
IN ELKO COUNTY, STATE OF NEVADA AND THREATS TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS.
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MOTION: Commissioner Ellison moved to adopt Resolution No. 022008, entitled:
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY 2008
EARTHQUAKE. Commissioner Myers seconded the motion.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Chairman Nannini commented that Wells City Mayor would also like to make
the same motion. He noted that the Wells City Council was not in quorum at this
time.
Wells City Mayor, Rusty Tybo, made a declaration of emergency
services request on behalf of the City of Wells.
Chairman Nannini inquired if that would be sufficient for the City of Wells.
William Webb would call and confirm that would be sufficient for a joined
Declaration and if not the Wells City Council would have to hold an Emergency
Meeting for the Declaration. Chairman Nannini felt that the County Commission’s
Declaration would cover the whole county.
Commissioner Ellison voiced concern about low temperatures in the area
and most of the chimneys being down. He inquired if blankets and food would be
supplied. Commissioner Nannini stated the command post was established and
the responders were coming in from all over the State of Nevada. He
complimented the responder’s upon their planning and response. He stressed
that there was a real situation in Wells and reviewed the incidents that occurred at
his work during the quake. He believed that every home in Wells had some sort of
damage whether structural or to their personal property. Commissioner Russell
stated that he had experienced the quake in his home at Lamoille.
Cash Minor reported that Congressman Heller and Senator Ensign’s Office
had called and offered assistance. He noted that Lander County had also called
and offered to send over personnel. Commissioner Ellison stated once the
Department of Management assessed the damage would the Governor declare a
State of Emergency? Commissioner Nannini understood that was the correct
procedure.
Commissioner Russell inquired when the NDOT engineers would finish with
their evaluation of the overpasses on U.S. 93 and I-80. Robert Stokes stated they
were in the process when he drove to Wells this morning. Commissioner Myers
reported that they were still in the process. He stated there would be a federal
team to look at the bridges and overpasses. Commissioner Myers stated that
NDOT knew the overpass on I-80 north of Wells had some structure cracks in its
abutments but not enough to close the overpass down. He had spoken to Kevin
Lee and informed him the County was declaring a state of emergency.
Mayor Rusty Tybo thanked everyone for attending the meeting, the Sheriff
and the first responders to this situation.
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Joe Aguirre, County Assessor, volunteered to put together a team to
evaluate the damage.
Richard Harvey stated that there was a central information report at the Elko
Interagency Dispatch Center. He reported that the contact number was 748-4000
and they could get updates at that telephone number. He commented upon the
amount of calls received.
Robert Stokes voiced his condolence to Commissioner Ellison on the loss of
his father.
Jeff Savadel, National Weather Service, reminded them that they could
disseminate any local emergency message they wished to go to the public. He
stated it would activate the emergency alert system and have highlights on their
web page. Commissioner Nannini noted that there had been 6 aftershocks and
inquired if there would be more. He inquired if they could predict that. Jeff
Savadel stated that was more of a USGS matter. Commissioner Nannini
commented that the fifth aftershock was really strong.
Cash Minor stated that Wayne Carlson would be contacting a group at the
UNR that studies the earthquakes. He stated if there was further information on
future expectations he would relay that information to them.
Commissioner Ellison inquired if Robert Stokes or Cash Minor should
contact the radio station and ask that the public not travel to Wells at this time.
Commissioner Nannini stated that Lori Gilbert had already put that across the
media for the tourists. He stated that all exits were covered and the officers were
moving the traffic through Wells. Commissioner Ellison commented upon Mayor
Tybo’s interview on the news. Sheriff Lotspeich stated that there were requests
for volunteers. He stated the engineers would evaluate the structures for public
safety. He hoped to have enough resources to provide potable water to everyone.
XXI.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Russell seconded the motion. The
motion was passed by majority vote.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was
adjourned.
APPROVED
MIKE NANNINI, Chairman
ATTEST:
MARILYN TIPTON, Deputy Clerk
ELKO COUNTY COMMISSION
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FEBRUARY 21, 2008
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