Legislature(2011 - 2012)BARNES 124
03/22/2011 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Emergency Disaster Preparedness in Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 22, 2011
8:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Cathy Engstrom Munoz, Chair
Representative Neal Foster, Vice Chair
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Alan Dick
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: EMERGENCY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN ALASKA
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JOE MCLAUGHLIN, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a presentation entitled "The
Japanese Nuclear Crisis: What it Means for Alaska."
CHRIS LABORDE, Preparedness Program Manager
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the presentation, answered
questions.
KRISTIN RYAN, Director
Division of Environmental Health
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During presentations, answered questions.
DR. BERND JILLY, PhD, MT (ASCP), Chief
Public Health Laboratories
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During presentation, answered questions.
CLYDE PEARCE, Radiology Health Specialist/Chief
Public Health Laboratories
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During presentation, answered questions.
ALICE EDWARDS, Director
Division of Air Quality
Department of Environmental Conservation
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During presentation, answered questions.
MAJOR GENERAL TOM KATKUS, Adjutant General, Commissioner
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments regarding Alaska's
tsunami modeling and emergency preparedness.
MIKE O'HARE, Deputy Director
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a presentation of Alaska's tsunami
modeling and emergency preparedness.
TOM MATTICE, Emergency Programs Coordinator & Avalanche
Forecaster
City & Borough of Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the efforts in Southeast to
achieve emergency preparedness and response.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:05:06 AM
CHAIR CATHY ENGSTROM MUNOZ called the House Community and
Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:05
a.m. Representatives Dick, Saddler, Cissna, and Munoz were
present at the call to order. Representatives Foster,
Austerman, and Gardner arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^Overview: Emergency Disaster Preparedness in Alaska
Overview: Emergency Disaster Preparedness in Alaska
8:05:20 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ announced that the only order of business would be
an overview of emergency disaster preparedness in Alaska.
8:05:55 AM
JOE MCLAUGHLIN, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist, Division of
Public Health, began by saying:
If they're only three things that I can impart on you
all today, these would be the three that I would
choose:
1) There is no immediate or anticipated threat for
harmful levels of radiation to reach Alaska;
2) Alaska's seafood is unlikely to be affected;
3) This is an important reminder that all Alaskans
should assemble a home emergency kit and a family
response plan.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN then reviewed a framework that provides some of
the key response measures for which public health agencies are
responsible during a radiation emergency. Public health
agencies have a duty to inform the public, health care
providers, and others regarding steps that can be taken to
prevent undue radiation exposure during a radiation emergency.
Public health agencies also have a responsibility to protect the
public from radiation exposure through providing recommendations
about shelter-in-place and/or evacuation, distribution of
radiation medications, and restricting consumption of
contaminated food. Further responsibilities of public health
agencies include decreasing psychological effects of radiation
exposure as well as performing long-term follow-up for exposed
persons, which includes case identification and tracking and
access to care. To date DHSS has responded to numerous media
requests and issued many press releases and messages through
social media. The department has also issued an epidemiology
bulletin, which has been distributed to over 900 people in
Alaska. The aforementioned was primarily geared toward health
care providers. The message has been the same through all the
media outlets. The principal messages have been that there's no
anticipated threat to the health of Alaskans; Alaskans shouldn't
take potassium iodide at this time; ongoing monitoring and
communicating with local, state, and federal partners regarding
the situation; and the incident in Japan serves as an important
reminder to be prepared for an emergency. In terms of being
prepared for an emergency the slide entitled "What can Alaskans
do to be prepared for an emergency?" lists the items necessary
to create a home emergency supply kit. He also pointed out that
Alaskans should create a vehicle emergency supply kit, develop a
family response plan, and practice the plan. With regard to
Alaska's radiation monitoring, Alaska's monitoring stations
continue to report normal background levels of radiation. There
are five Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitoring
stations in Alaska. The three stations that are currently
reporting are in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. He noted
that one station in Juneau is specifically geared to report
gamma radiation information. The three monitoring stations that
will soon be reporting are located in Dutch Harbor, Juneau, and
Nome. The recently installed monitor in Juneau will report beta
radiation information. Mr. McLaughlin said that if radiation
levels increase substantially, the Division of Health would
measure specific isotopes to determine whether steps are
necessary to protect the public's health. He noted that
available data can be found at the DHSS home page. He then
turned to the topic of protecting the food supply; the U.S. Food
& Drug Administration (USFDA) is closely monitoring the
situation. In fact, USFDA is performing increased and targeted
product sampling at the border. He highlighted that less than 4
percent of U.S. imported foods come from Japan. Furthermore,
current models indicate that U.S. fishing waters will remain
safe. He shared a quote from a recent USFDA fax: "The great
quantity of water in the Pacific Ocean rapidly and effectively
dilutes radioactive material, so fish and seafood are likely to
be unaffected."
8:11:24 AM
MR. MCLAUGHLIN then directed the committee's attention to a
table that provides information regarding various levels of
radiation exposure and the effects of those levels. He informed
the committee that the average amount of radiation absorbed by a
person in a day is 0.0016 Roentgen equivalent man (rem) of
radiation whereas a chest x-ray will expose a person to 0.04 rem
of radiation. He further informed the committee that the
average amount of radiation absorbed by a person in a year is
0.6 rem. In comparison, the maximum radiation reported at the
main gate of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant on March 15th was
40 rem while the amount of radiation reported in Tokyo on the
same day is 0.00008 rem.
8:12:39 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ asked if there is updated information for the
[Japanese Nuclear Crisis].
MR. MCLAUGHLIN replied no, but offered to provide it to the
committee [when available].
8:12:53 AM
MR. MCLAUGHLIN then informed the committee that exposure levels
of 5-50 is where signs of acute radiation sickness occur as well
as slightly increased risk of malformations, growth, and
intelligence quotient (IQ) impacts, and failure for embryo to
implant. In children and adults, such exposure can result in
changes in blood chemistry, such as a decrease in white blood
cell counts. The 50-90 rem range is where symptoms of acute
radiation exposure, including nausea, fatigue, vomiting, hair
loss, and diarrhea, occur. In terms of radiation medications,
Mr. McLaughlin told the committee that radiation medications are
included in the strategic national stockpile. The medications
of potassium iodide, Prussian blue, and DTPA are used to prevent
internal exposure to radiation. The medications of antiemetic,
neupogen, and antibiotics are meant to help decrease the impact
of radiation exposure. The aforementioned medications will only
be deployed if there is a "credible threat." The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) has said: "No
public health risks are expected in the United States."
Therefore, there is no credible threat and the strategic
national stockpile hasn't been deployed. In summary, Mr.
McLaughlin related the following:
· There is no anticipated threat of harmful radiation
exposure to Alaskans at this time
· Alaska's seafood is unlikely to be affected
· All Alaskans should be prepared for disasters
· More information is available at www.hss.state.ak.us
8:15:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired as to size of the stockpile for
radiation medications.
8:15:55 AM
CHRIS LABORDE, Preparedness Program Manager, Division of Public
Health, Department of Health and Social Services, answered that
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) won't
release any information regarding the location or amount of the
strategic national stockpile.
8:16:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER, recalling the testimony that Alaska's
fish and seafood is "unlikely" to be impacted by the Japanese
Nuclear Crisis, asked if there is any way in which to monitor
whether Alaska's seafood is impacted.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN deferred to Ms. Ryan.
8:17:14 AM
KRISTIN RYAN, Director, Division of Environmental Health,
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), related that DEC
is working closely with the USFDA to perform monitoring in order
to develop a monitoring protocol that can be relied upon.
However, the protocol hasn't been developed yet.
8:18:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER requested periodic updates on the [safety
of Alaska's seafood]. He noted that Western Alaska residents
are very concerned, especially due to their reliance on the
fishing industry.
8:18:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there are any global impacts or
impacts to the seafood in Japan's waters.
MS. RYAN stated that the USFDA is Alaska's main partner because
it regulates all food imported into the U.S. About 4 percent of
the foods [imported] to the U.S. are from Japan. The USFDA
performs random sampling and monitoring of food that enters the
U.S. Obviously, the USFDA will step up its radiation monitoring
for food from Japan. At this point, no food shipments are
coming from Japan, which will likely be the case for some time.
8:20:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA questioned whether there are already
websites that are monitoring the impacts of radiation on
wildlife.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN deferred to Dr. JILLY.
8:22:00 AM
DR. BERND JILLY, PhD, MT (ASCP), Chief, Public Health
Laboratories, Division of Public Health, Department of Health
and Social Services, informed the committee that the EPA does
have monitors in the ocean. Since it's a federal program, it's
beyond the Alaska State Laboratories' purview. However, he
echoed Mr. McLaughlin's testimony that Alaska does have land
monitoring stations in order to provide an early warning for
what's in the atmosphere. With regard to ocean monitoring, he
deferred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) or other federal agencies. In further response to
Representative Cissna, Dr. Jilly confirmed that the Division of
Public Health website, www.hss.state.ak.us, provides information
[regarding the state's land monitoring efforts]. The website
relates the historical average and maximum for this calendar
year as well as the current readings of the Anchorage monitoring
station. The division's website also includes a link to the
EPA's website that has a graph that updates 15 times a day from
Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
8:24:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired as to the risk to the
agricultural industry in Alaska.
MS. RYAN said that although the state does test food for many
contaminants, it doesn't have the capacity to test for
radiation. However, DEC is monitoring the air deposition that
EPA measures. If there is a point when deposition occurs in
Alaska, then DEC would work with its federal counterparts to
perform sampling of Alaska's agricultural products. She noted
that the majority of food produced in Alaska is from the sea,
and therefore that's DEC's emphasis. Since no deposition is
being seen at this point, there aren't necessarily concerns
regarding contamination. Ms. Ryan mentioned that as part of the
USFDA's radiation monitoring throughout the U.S., the USFDA
randomly monitors milk and meat throughout the U.S., save in
Alaska. The aforementioned information is available and
periodically updated on the USFDA website.
8:26:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER remarked that in case of a disaster in
Alaska, Alaska may regret that it doesn't produce more food for
its consumption.
8:27:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER inquired as to the difference between beta
and gamma radiation. He also inquired as to when the Dutch
Harbor, Juneau, and Nome sites will be reporting and will it be
in the same format as the existing reporting sites.
8:27:58 AM
CLYDE PEARCE, Radiology Health Specialist/Chief, Public Health
Laboratories, Division of Public Health, Department of Health
and Social Services, explained that gamma radiation is more like
x-rays in that it's pure energy, whereas beta and alpha
radiation are particles of matter. Therefore, there could be
fall out with beta or alpha radiation.
8:28:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER recalled that Bethel may receive a
radiation monitoring station. He then inquired as to how soon
the Dutch Harbor, Juneau (gamma), and Nome radiation stations
will be reporting and will it be the same format as those
stations currently reporting.
DR. JILLY said that's hard to answer because [the stations]
belong to EPA and there are a number of technical issues that
must be overcome and the appropriate quality control must be
achieved prior to reporting data.
8:29:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK said that although he has confidence in the
state's agencies and organizations [that would respond to a
disaster], he doesn't have confidence in the like federal
agencies. He pointed to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency's (FEMA) response to Hurricane Katrina as an example of
his lack of confidence in the federal agencies. Representative
Dick then requested the state agencies to be hyper vigilant on
behalf of the state and to validate the information obtained
[from federal agencies] because he didn't believe the message
would be different regardless of the status of the situation.
He then echoed Representative Saddler's comment regarding the
need for Alaska to produce more of its food as he recalled that
there is only three to six days worth of food in Alaska at any
given time. Representative Dick then explained that the slow
growing lichen absorbs radiation and has radiation levels higher
than any other plant. The aforementioned has resulted in those
who eat caribou to stop eating the caribou liver, where the
radiation concentration is the worst. Therefore, he suggested
that the state start sampling lichen and caribou livers.
MS. RYAN said that she is familiar with the concentration issues
of lichen. She suggested that DEC would work with the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) on this matter because it's
more equipped to evaluate the health and safety of subsistence
species. She offered to discuss Representative Dick's concerns
with ADF&G and inquire of ADF&G's sampling efforts.
8:33:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA recalled past Health Caucus meetings when
mutual aid agreements were discussed. Mutual aid agreements,
which ensure [various agencies are] networking and communicating
with each other, are important in fields outside of health as
well. However, she opined that it feels like such networking
and communication is going downhill in regard to reaching
communities. She then inquired as to the work going on in terms
of [networking and communicating] with respect to preparedness.
MS. LABORDE informed the committee that the Preparedness Office
has a community outreach program. The office along with the
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM)
and The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium go to the
communities to answer their questions and deliver their message.
8:35:51 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ requested receipt of updated information on the
radiation readings as it becomes available.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN agreed to do so.
8:36:29 AM
ALICE EDWARDS, Director, Division of Air Quality, Department of
Environmental Conservation, addressed the latest status on the
three additional monitoring stations. The Dutch Harbor site is
currently operational and transmitting data, which will soon be
found on the EPA website and the Division of Public Health's
website also. The Nome monitor was damaged during shipment and
a replacement monitor should've arrived yesterday. The Nome
station is in the installation process. Although the Juneau
monitor has been shipped, set up, and is collecting samples, it
can't transmit real-time data until a new cable is received. In
response to Chair Munoz, Ms. Edwards said that the existing
monitoring stations aren't showing abnormal levels of radiation,
rather they're showing normal background levels of radiation.
8:38:47 AM
MAJOR GENERAL TOM KATKUS, Adjutant General, Commissioner,
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), related that
it's a privilege to serve in uniform and to be thanked for his
service. He then acknowledged and thanked the first responders,
particularly those in Alaska because any emergency response
efforts start locally. The Department of Military & Veterans'
Affairs is responsible for the homeland security management
function that synchronizes all the first responders' efforts to
address an emergency. The goal is to have an efficient, fast,
effective, and coordinated response from all. Therefore, the
DMVA starts well in advance of the disaster to prepare
scenarios, train, exercise, and communicate the message such
that it's a singular message to assure confidence from the
public. Furthermore, DMVA's efforts are coordinated in an
escalated manner through the various resources the U.S. can
bring to bear on a problem. Major General Katkus then reviewed
the real-life scenario of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on
March 10th that illustrates the synchronized response efforts
performed in Alaska.
8:44:17 AM
MIKE O'HARE, Deputy Director, Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
(DMVA), began by informing the committee that the division plans
for all hazards, including floods, avalanches, tsunamis,
etcetera. He referred to [the division's model] as an effects-
based model that operates in a collaborative partnership with
state and federal agencies to bring all resources forward during
any disaster in Alaska. The division, he emphasized, supports
the local communities. Mr. O'Hare then turned to his
presentation and reiterated that it's all about partnerships.
With regard to tsunamis, the program is comprised of multiple
state and federal agencies, including the University of Alaska
Geophysical Institute, the Alaska Geological and Geophysical
Surveys Division, as well as many others. He noted that he and
his staff receive alerts for earthquakes over a certain
magnitude on a daily basis. Mr. O'Hare echoed earlier comments
that staff work as a team to provide updated information to
every community in Alaska. Relay systems, which are fairly fail
safe, are used. He then referred to the slide entitled "Distant
Threat," which is a map that specifies the tsunami hazard by
community. All the coastal communities face a distant tsunami
threat, such as experienced March 10th. There are also local
tsunamis that arise due to a local threat such as a catastrophic
earthquake; these are tsunamis for which there is no notice of
the impending emergency. The next slide entitled "Warning
Sirens and TsunamiReady Communities," is a map that specifies
the communities that are prepared for a tsunami and/or have had
a siren installed since 2006. The seven tsunami ready
communities are: Seward, Homer, Kodiak, Sitka, Valdez, Yakutat,
and Sand Point. Unalaska, Cordova, and Whittier are just
completing their requirements. Other vulnerable communities
being considered for tsunami ready community [status], which is
voluntary, are Cold Bay, King Cove, and Saint Paul. To be
tsunami ready a community must establish a 24-hour operational
center and warning point; have more than one way to receive the
tsunami warning signals; and develop a formal tsunami plan,
which includes holding several exercises. He noted that the
tsunami plan is updated every three years.
8:51:31 AM
MR. O'HARE moved on to the slide entitled "Community
Notification Call Map," which identifies the various zones for
tsunamis. Depending upon the modeling information, a
prioritization for the zones is established, contact to those
priority zones is made, and procedures are engaged. Ultimately,
every zone is contacted. He reviewed how the process actually
occurs. He then turned attention to the slide entitled
"Inundation Maps," which uses Seward as an example. The
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has a
tsunami mapping team, which is comprised of the Alaska
Earthquake Information Center, the previously mentioned
geological and geophysical entities as well as the local
communities. He indicated that using the geological and
geophysical information as well as the local knowledge provides
a reasonable understanding where the inundation will occur and
the high ground will be. The aforementioned provides the
ability to develop the evacuation plans. He then shared a slide
entitled "Hazard Mapping," which uses a map of Homer to
illustrate the inundation path. Mr. O'Hare then reviewed the
various warning sirens utilized in the various communities,
which range from a simple siren to a siren that allows
programmable and manual voice communication. The type chosen by
a community is based on the community and the funding available.
The funding for these siren systems is through the National
Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, the FEMA Homeland Hazard
Mitigation Grant program, State Homeland Security Grant
programs, and the NOAA Remote Community Alert Systems.
8:56:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired as to how often these systems
are tested or drills are held.
MR. O'HARE answered that it's based on the community as there is
no mandate.
8:56:56 AM
MR. O'HARE, in response to Representative Cissna, informed the
committee that there are community emergency managers in most of
the communities in Alaska. Part of the division's job is to
provide resources, materials, assistance, and models to ensure
that those emergency managers educate, train, and exercise the
local citizens. If it's a hub community, the [division and
emergency managers] work to ensure the satellite villages are
involved with the training, education, and outreach mitigation
opportunities or are used as an evacuation community.
Basically, it's dependent upon the environment. Therefore, Mr.
O'Hare opined that throughout there are leaders in the
communities. Although they may not be the designated emergency
managers, they are counted on and included in the education,
training, and preparedness regime in order to ensure communities
are better prepared. As mentioned earlier, it's performed in
partnership with various other agencies, including DHSS, DEC,
and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).
8:59:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA reminded the committee that the state
leads in behavioral problems that are preventable. She opined
that everyone is the victim of the poorest prepared. Therefore,
she suggested that we have to go beyond [emergency preparedness]
in order to really make it [as a state] because economics need
to be included. She then mentioned the problems with out-
migration of communities.
9:01:34 AM
MR. O'HARE, continuing his presentation, reviewed photos of the
various warning sirens in various communities, including the
Kenai Peninsula Borough's mobile siren. He then moved on to the
slide entitled "Tsunami Sign Program," which relates the various
signs. The next slide entitled "Outreach and Education" has
photographs of the "Quake Cabin," which is an earthquake
simulator cabin that simulates a 5.0 earthquake and what really
happens. The Quake Cabin is used at schools, businesses, state
fairs, and safety events. He then reviewed the various outreach
products the division provides. The main message of the
outreach products is: "An educated and aware public with a plan
of action will be able to adapt to any situation and respond
accordingly." "Our mission is to outreach and educate Alaskans
to be better prepared for any disaster," he related. He shared
a photograph of the Valdez tsunami of 1964. Mr. O'Hare then
told the committee that no community can prepare for what
recently happened in Japan. Therefore, the [goal] is to educate
citizens to have a plan, have a survival kit with seven days
worth of food, water, and medicine. The next slide entitled
"Hazards/Threats" reviews the various natural disasters and
threats, including terrorism and the pandemic flu. With regard
to the slide entitled "Partnerships," he reminded the committee
[first and foremost] the division serves the local communities
and uses partnerships to do so. In fact, he stated that the
division is working well with the federal government. In
closing, Mr. O'Hare said: "As Alaskans, as individuals, as
neighbors, as community leaders, as state leaders, please for
yourselves and for your constituents send the message out:
'Have a plan, build a kit, be informed, and be ready.'" The
following website: www.ready.alaska.gov will help you identify
the materials necessary to make an emergency kit.
9:07:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK directed attention to the slide entitled
"Tsunami Notification Call," and highlighted that it denotes the
small town of Lime Village, 17 residents. Representative Dick
informed the committee that he represents Native villages as
well as many firm constitutionalists, who don't fear natural
disasters. He said that his constituents are concerned about
martial law, and therefore he inquired as to what it would look
like in the state.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS responded that it would be directed by the
communities, which are the leaders to whom the division provides
support. He related that the chain of support and response to
an emergency will be as follows: the community, the state, and
then the federal government depending upon the magnitude of the
emergency. "That martial law is going to be the extent possible
to maintain good order and discipline and address the issue, and
it is going to be synchronized with local communities, local
governors ... and it's going to be the federal agency that's
stepping in to support the governor, unequivocally," he
clarified.
9:10:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if the division's website includes
any tips for communities to work together to problem solve on
their own, including relationship building and outmigration.
She related that the Anchorage neighborhoods in her district
used to be better at the aforementioned coordination.
MR. O'HARE acknowledged that remote communities have unique
dynamics, including having multiple leadership that don't
necessarily get along. The division enters a community and
tries to address it as a whole. Still, he agreed that there are
issues with the aforementioned. With regard to Anchorage, he
highlighted that it has put together the beginnings of a
phenomenal neighborhood watch program, regarding which he
offered to provide information to the committee.
9:13:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER pointed out that many Alaskans haven't
experienced a major earthquake and its effects. He inquired as
to when Alaskans are informed about any aspect of the emergency
preparedness system.
MR. O'HARE informed the committee that the emergency alert
system has been used for the occasional Amber Alert. The Alaska
Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a relationship with the Alaska
Broadcaster's Association that provides a statewide relay of
information, warnings, alerts, and etcetera. That relay system
is tested monthly. The warning initially comes from the Alaska
State Troopers and then is relayed via the division; alerts are
also spread via television. The statewide alert system occurs
in any instance in which the public needs to be notified.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER related that on March 10th he was
watching the news on television when he first heard the news of
the earthquake in Japan and received a tsunami advisory.
MR. O'HARE noted that the alert levels proceed through advisory,
watch, and warning. The National Weather Service is trying to
simplify the alert levels. In further response to
Representative Saddler, Mr. O'Hare confirmed that the alert is
publicized through the television, radio broadcast, ham radio,
and NOAA weather radio. For those communities without NOAA
weather radio access or sporadic communication capability, the
ham radio operators and marine band works are relied upon.
Furthermore, the division prepares the hub communities to be
able to alert the satellite communities in their area. The
Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) system is a day-to-day
administrative communications system with first responders along
the road system, but it's not part of the emergency alert
system.
9:17:38 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ asked if Alaska has officially responded to Japan in
terms of providing assets or support.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS related that Alaska has made offers.
However, it's critical to synchronize the good intentions and
good will. The Alaska National Guard is flying over with active
duty personnel as well as support aircraft in order to support
the federal effort as far as the military and the State
Department. The aforementioned addresses the current requests
and the [division] is prepared to step forward with future
requests.
9:18:39 AM
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS, in response to Representative Gardner,
clarified that he doesn't know of all the requests through the
various departments and divisions. With regard to the military
requests that he is aware of, the division has coordinated
through the National Guard Bureau and the nation. The [division
and the military] are responding where requested. In further
response to Representative Gardner, Major General Katkus
confirmed that there are no Alaska National Guardsmen in Japan
or on the ground. However, they are involved in the aircraft
supporting the U.S. efforts in Japan.
9:19:34 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ inquired as to how Alaskans can contribute
effectively.
MR. O'HARE informed the committee that the website,
www.ready.alaska.gov, includes contact information with regard
to the response to Japan specifically. He echoed Major General
Katkus' comments regarding that it's best to coordinate with the
appropriate federal agencies that are responding to Japan's
requests, which is the State Department and USAID. Currently,
transportation is being supplied through the National Guard.
9:20:43 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ noted that the Salvation Army,
www.donate.salvationarmy.org, and the Red Cross are actively
involved.
9:21:46 AM
TOM MATTICE, Emergency Programs Coordinator & Avalanche
Forecaster, City & Borough of Juneau, highlighted the
coordination efforts he has done as he works toward emergency
preparedness and response. He related that he does a lot of
networking, outreach, and training at all levels throughout
Southeast Alaska. Therefore, Mr. Mattice does a lot of local
planning, training, and exercises as well as performs a lot of
grant management for Juneau. One of the grants he manages is
the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Grant, which is
a mass casualty, mass prophylaxis med (indisc.) that's designed
for all of Southeast Alaska. There is a steering committee
comprised of members from throughout Southeast Alaska that work
as a group to plan, train, exercise, and understand the gaps in
the region. The goal is to work together as a region to
facilitate supporting and filling in the gaps. To that end,
teams are built to support other communities as well as to build
assets to support Southeast communities and elsewhere in the
state. The MMRS grant is unique. He informed the committee
that he works a lot with DHSS, DHS&EM, and the Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities, including staff at the
airport, ferries, cruise lines, hospitals, fire chiefs, law
enforcement, and regional hazardous materials teams. Through
the MMRS steering committee, six mobile disaster shelters have
been mobilized that can be joined to form one disaster shelter
to be as large as a 90-bed mobile hospital. Each of those six
mobile disaster shelters, located throughout Southeast Alaska,
has about $80,000 worth of emergency management service (EMS)
equipment. Mr. Mattice highlighted that at Prince of Wales
Island next month there will be a mobilization exercise in which
seven communities will come together to form a three-shelter
mobile hospital to support a mass casualty for Craig. The
exercise will be held at the Klawock Airport so that if National
Guard assets had to be mobilized for forward movement of
patients it could be achieved. There will also be an annual
steering committee meeting to review how to utilize the funds in
conjunction with an annual exercise to support mass casualty as
a region. The lessons learned from the aforementioned exercise
will be incorporated into next year's grant spending plan while
also identifying gaps that need to be addressed to support
Juneau as well as all of Southeast Alaska.
9:25:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA inquired as to how transportation issues
are addressed on Prince of Wales Island as well as other parts
of Southeast, particularly those areas that are comprised of
multiple islands.
MR. MATTICE clarified that the Prince of Wales Island drill will
also include mobilization structures from Ketchikan and
Wrangell. The MMRS steering committee has reviewed how assets
can be mobilized, which has resulted in working with the
National Guard regarding how to load these structures in
aircraft and rapidly deploy them. The committee has also
[considered/reviewed] working with the ferry system, barge
systems, and smaller providers. All of the aforementioned
illustrates the multi-agency coordination of planning, training,
and exercising so that all the organizations are familiar with
working with and communicating with one another.
9:27:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked if schools are involved in the
emergency preparedness.
MR. MATTICE replied yes. In fact, part of the outreach effort
for Prince of Wales Island included first-aid and CPR classes as
well as emergency trauma classes in the schools. One of the
goals with the MMRS is to create responders at all levels,
including children.
9:27:50 AM
MR. MATTICE, continuing his presentation, reiterated that there
is much focus of the planning, training, and exercises. Any
lessons learned are incorporated into the grant spending in
order to complete the preparedness loop. The aforementioned is
done annually. He noted that his review of the All Hazards
Mitigation Plan provided a greater understanding of the concerns
that impact the City & Borough of Juneau as well as the
priorities to address and mitigate those concerns and find
sources of funding. Through the review of the aforementioned
plan, Mr. Mattice said that he recognized the City & Borough of
Juneau's Emergency Operations Plan had some holes. Therefore,
the City & Borough of Juneau's Emergency Operations Plan is
being revised. Through the planning section of DHS&EM in
partnership with the city a review was performed of the
Emergency Operations Plans of Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau in
conjunction with all the hospitals in Southeast Alaska in order
to ensure alignment in terms of referring to the appropriate
state agencies for the appropriate support and mechanisms. The
City & Borough has now began to review its plan and added
various necessary annexes, including transportation, local and
out-of-town evacuation annexes as well as mass care, mass
shelter, mass casualty, and mass fatality.
9:29:21 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ asked if Mr. Mattice is involved in the air quality
issues.
MR. MATTICE replied no, but noted that he is paying attention to
it. In fact, he noted that he had expressed concerns with
regard to the data not being real-time data. In further
response to Chair Munoz, Mr. Mattice confirmed that he is
following the disaster in Japan and wrote a paper that was
presented to the Juneau Assembly. In response to Representative
Gardner, Mr. Mattice agreed to provide the aforementioned paper
to the committee. With regard to a food storage plan in Juneau,
Mr. Mattice stated that the City & Borough of Juneau doesn't
have a formal plan to address its food supply. Obviously, with
the review of transportation one of the goals is to ensure that
food can continue to be brought into the community. However, he
acknowledged that it's a weakness.
9:31:02 AM
MR. MATTICE, completing his presentation, emphasized that
critical to planning is the buy-in as is multi-agency
coordination to review the assets necessary at critical times.
He noted that he coordinates with various volunteer
organizations to staff emergency shelters. He characterized his
position as the hub of the many organizations that ensures all
the lines of communication remain open. Volunteer organizations
active in disaster are a large part of those with who he is in
contact. Training is performed throughout the City & Borough of
Juneau as well as throughout Southeast Alaska. This training
ranges from training for those emergency responders to the local
citizens. He also reviews how to utilize funds to address gaps
in services and equipment. In fact, oxygen generation systems
have been deployed in multiple Southeast Alaska communities in
order to avoid dependency on the barges during a crisis.
Furthermore, two level A hazardous materials teams have been
built in Ketchikan and Juneau to be able to deploy and support
smaller communities in Southeast Alaska. Mass casualty patient
tracking systems have been provided to the large communities and
hospitals in Southeast Alaska in order to review how to provide
forward movement of patients. Also, Southeast communities
continue to exercise with one another. He noted that most of
the exercises he coordinates are geared toward the mass
casualty, multi-agency coordination with unified command
structures. Pandemic mass medication exercises are another
large component of what Mr. Mattice does should the strategic
national stockpiles need to be implemented. In conclusion, Mr.
Mattice said that through multi-agency coordination, planning,
training, exercising, revisiting necessary assets, and
incorporating lessons learned into future planning, focused
efforts are being made to improve emergency preparedness in
Juneau and Southeast Alaska.
9:34:48 AM
MR. MATTICE, in response to Representative Gardner, related his
assumption that similar efforts are being made in Anchorage.
Those efforts, he opined, likely delve into more detail as the
Anchorage team has more staff.
9:35:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER thanked all the presenters for providing
reassurance regarding emergency preparedness. He asked if there
is a global gold standard for emergency preparedness.
MR. MATTICE said that he didn't know how to answer that, but
opined that he's trying to create such constantly. Southeast
Alaska presents unique challenges in terms of the distance
between communities, difficult access, and limited lines of
support.
9:36:12 AM
CHAIR MUNOZ thanked the presenters. She then noted that
Representative Cissna will provide committee members with the
Legislative Health Caucus' publication on Alaska well being,
which includes a chapter on disaster preparedness.
9:36:35 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 9:36 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB196-CCED-AEA-03-18-11.pdf |
HCRA 3/22/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 196 |
| Sectional Analysis HB196.pdf |
HCRA 3/22/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 196 |