LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — In the years since One October, Clark County officials developed a system to meet a critical need after large incidents: a database to track survivors and victims with up-to-date information for loved ones.
Clark County’s system, called the “Impacted Person’s Database,” has been operating since 2023, according to Clark County Fire Department Chief Billy Samuels. It was created by the County’s IT department and the fire department, a county spokesperson tells FOX5.
Numerous other leaders and departments from across the county helped make the project a reality, Samuels said.
Clark County officials are set to discuss the system and a new state law at the Board of Commissioners meeting. This year, Clark County leaders pushed for a law to mandate that hospitals provide timely updates on patients within 24 hours. The law also ensures that patient data remains protected by privacy laws.
Here’s how it works: first responders activate the system for a large incident. Hospitals are notified that multiple victims are headed to their facilities.
First responders can send information to the database.
Once patients arrive at local hospitals, medical centers can also send patient information to the database. If a name is not available, hospitals can send physical descriptions that can ultimately help families find a loved one.
A single phone number or hotline must be established for all loved ones to call.
Once calls come in, operators can look up data for callers and document inquiries; as more patient information comes in, the system can help match an inquiry with a patient’s record.
“The sooner we can get accurate information out to the general public and to those affected, the better we’re doing our job– even if it’s hard information, and you have to have those conversations,” Samuels said.
“When the next incident occurs, whether it be man-made, nefarious or just a true accident, we’re able to actually meet those needs of the community and loved ones,” he said.
After One October, first responders faced an unprecedented challenge in the hours and days following the incident: handling the calls and inquiries from thousands of people across the world frantically searching for loved ones.
58 people died that night and hundreds of people were injured during the shooting at the Route 91 festival.
Countless cell phones were also scattered across the festival grounds as thousands fled, making it difficult for families to reach loved ones.
“After One October, one of the things that we did identify is, we don’t have a collective group obtaining information on victims. When someone would call from New York and they would say, ‘where’s my loved one?’ We would be like, ‘we don’t know.’ That’s a horrible thing to have to say to somebody,” Samuels said. Numerous families drove in from California to find information on their loved ones.
After searching nationwide for an appropriate system or database, officials could not find one; Samuels explains, Clark County then took steps to develop its own.
Samuels tells FOX5, the Valley’s 17 hospitals stepped up to participate in the newly-created system. The new state law mandates participation and timely responses.
The system was activated during the UNLV shooting on December 6, 2023; first responders helped reunite 542 families with students and staff that were taken to reunification centers, Samuels said.
The system continues to be refined, Samuels said.
“When we do use it, again, it’s going to happen. It’s just unfortunately the way the world we live in today. Hopefully it works the way we think it should,” he said.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
