How To Make Sure Your Loved Ones in Las Vegas are Okay

By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer
Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

    Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

    Mass Shooting At Mandalay Bay In Las Vegas
    LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 02: A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer stands in the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Ave. after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, killing over 20 people. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot dead. The investigation is ongoing. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
    Ethan Miller—Getty Images

    Many Americans didn’t hear about the deadly shootings in Las Vegas until they checked out the news this morning—and after processing the horror of the event, no doubt their thoughts turned to friends and loved ones in the area.

    More than 50 people were killed and more than 400 were sent to local hospitals after a gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel at people attending the Route 91 Festival across the street.

    To help people determine the status of friends and family, Facebook has activated its safety check-in feature. And the city of Las Vegas has set up a toll-free line at 1-866-535-5654 for families looking to locate missing loved ones.

    It’s also a good idea to check the Twitter, Instagram, or other social media feeds of friends who live in or are visiting the area, as some people don’t use check in services, but may post private updates informing people of their status.