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Emergency Management adds hazards, plans cybersecurity and hazardous-materials grants
Summary
The Office of Emergency Management reported it expanded Anchorage’s hazard list from 12 to 16, is pursuing a cybersecurity-plan grant to integrate into the emergency operations plan, and will pass two noncontroversial grants (radiological protective equipment and a mass-violence exercise) to the Assembly for approval.
Amanda Loach, director of the Office of Emergency Management, told the committee on Feb. 5 that OEM has completed a risk analysis and expanded the Municipality’s list of hazards from 12 to 16. She said the additional hazards include cyber threats and a low-likelihood tsunami hazard identified by scientific review; OEM will apply emergency-management standards across the expanded set of hazards.
Loach said OEM will bring two grant items to the Assembly agenda: (1) a grant to integrate a cybersecurity plan into the municipal emergency operations plan (in partnership with IT) and (2) grant funds to support the Fire Department’s hazardous-materials team with radiological protective equipment and a mass-violence incident exercise. Both items are described as noncontroversial and will be scheduled for approval in upcoming meetings.
Loach also noted the city uses alert systems regularly and continues to improve alert capability and public-exercise plans; she said many exercises produce lessons that apply across hazard types. Committee members asked how Assembly members can help resident readiness; Loach said the OEM trains and exercises with other agencies and suggested outreach and public preparedness messages as ways Assembly members can assist.
No votes were taken at the Feb. 5 committee for these grants; OEM said the grants will be presented for Assembly approval on upcoming agendas.
