Mat-Su Times

Wildfire season is approaching and today’s exercise held in the Mat-Su Borough’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) was focused on just that. How do you respond to multiple fires many miles apart? What happens when roads are suddenly blocked with an evacuation order in place? What changes? Are there shelters available? if not, how quickly can they be set up? Where do you tell people to go until then? What about animals? What do evacuees do with them? Logistically, how do you make sure fuel, apparatus and fuel are sent to the one location while also calling for critical aviation evacuation What about the information flow coming in from the field to the EOC and between multiple agencies, who tracks it? What about messaging to the public? How do you make sure the information is timely consistent and accurate before sending it out to the world and who approves it? How do you deal with misinformation on social media and redirect people to the official source? What about the call center? Who creates the script and who assists with difficult, fearful callers? Who creates the maps and decides what needs to be shown and when to go live with it? How do you pay for everything and track it all? Who sets up press conferences, sets the agenda and alerts the media? When does the Alaska Div. Of Forestry assume command? Lastly, how can constructive criticism be used to improve the team and not discourage individuals experiencing the EOC for the first time.

Here are a few images from the morning portion of the exercise, demonstrating great teamwork and problem solving. There’s even a little fun every now and again. 

Photos by: Stefan Hinman

Original source can be found here.