Emergency Operations Plan

Direction, Control, and Coordination

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) establishes the framework for direction, control, and coordination activities in response to an emergency. This section of the EOP provides a comprehensive overview of the information collection, analysis, dissemination, administration, finance, logistics, plan development and maintenance, and authorities and references required for effective emergency management.

The crucial or essential information shared by all activities that was determined during the preparation phase is outlined in the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The data is required to make sure that the Borough is equipped to handle emergencies.

The information includes situational awareness data, resource information, impact information, and public information. Situational awareness data is information about the incident, including the location, severity, and number of victims. Resource information is about the resources available to respond to the incident. It includes the personnel, equipment, and supplies available to the incident commander and the capabilities and availability of other responding agencies (Venzin, 2020). Impact information is about casualties, property damage, environmental impacts, and other effects of the incident. Public information includes official statements, safety tips, evacuation information, and other incident-related information. This information is collected by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Office of Emergency Management (OEM) through monitoring of local news, radio, and other sources. The OEM office comprises the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the Incident Command System (ICS), and other agencies and organizations involved in the response. The OEM also collects information from first responders on the ground. The data is used to assess the situation and guide the incident commander.

The EOP outlines the format for providing the information, which includes written reports, oral briefings, and visual displays. The information is shared between the EOC and other agencies and organizations involved in the response and is used to coordinate the response and ensure that all personnel is aware of the situation. The information is also used to assess the response's effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. The Fairbanks North Star Borough EOP also outlines the jurisdictional agency coordination systems, which include the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The system is used to alert the public to an emergency. It provides information about the incident, including the location, the type of incident, and the resources needed. It is also used to provide instructions to the public on how to respond to the incident.

The information collected by the OEM is analyzed to assess the situation and provide guidance to the incident commander. Analysis is conducted using the Fairbanks North Star Borough Incident Command System (ICS), which is the framework for coordinating emergency response actions between all Borough departments and agencies (Venzin, 2020). The ICS structure consists of five key elements: command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration. While the operations portion of the ICS concentrates on providing a direct response to the incident, the command element is in charge of managing and coordinating the overall response. The ICS is a standardized system used to manage the response to an incident and is based on the principles of unity of command, a span of control, and resource management (Hanlin & Schulz, 2021). The EOC is responsible for managing the overall response, including collecting and analyzing information, coordinating resources, and providing guidance to the response personnel. The planning element is responsible for developing and maintaining the EOP and ACS, while the logistics element focuses on providing the necessary resources and personnel.

Once the information collected by the OEM has been analyzed, it is disseminated to the incident commander and other responding agencies. Dissemination is managed through the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Communication Center (ECC), which provides 24-hour monitoring, dispatch, and coordination of emergency response activities. The ECC also provides technical assistance and advice regarding emergency response operations and acts as a liaison between emergency response personnel and the public.

Administration

The Administration section of the EOP establishes the primary duties, individual jobs, and the principal and supporting functions of the various agencies and departments within the Borough. This includes the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Director, Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance/Administration Section Chief, Public Information Officer, Safety Officer, and Liaison Officer. The EOC Director acts as the main point of contact for the Borough and oversees the operation and coordination of the EOC overall. The Administration Division is responsible for managing and supervising all administrative activities related to the emergency. The responsibility includes developing and implementing policies and procedures, coordinating personnel and resource management, and ensuring that all activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Administration Division also provides support to the other divisions in the form of personnel and resources.

The Finance section of the EOP outlines the financial and administrative policies and procedures that must be followed in an emergency. This includes the identification of potential sources of funding for emergency operations, the establishment of financial control systems, and the development of appropriate financial management plans. The process of securing and managing finance includes budgeting, accounting, and procurement. The Finance/Administration Section Chief is responsible for managing the financial and administrative aspects of the incident response.

The Logistics Division is responsible for acquiring and managing the resources required to support the emergency response, including personnel, equipment, supplies, and facilities. The Division is responsible for identifying and acquiring the resources required for the response, coordinating the delivery of the resources, and managing the inventory of supplies.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is a comprehensive document that outlines the organization and assignment of responsibilities for responding to emergencies within the Borough. The EOP is developed and maintained through a collaborative planning process that involves representatives from various departments and agencies.

The planning process is designed to ensure the plan is up-to-date and reflects the community's current needs. The process begins with the identification of the hazards and risks that could affect the Borough. This information is used to develop an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness and response. Next, a list of potential response scenarios is developed, and the necessary resources and personnel are identified. This includes a review of the organization's roles, responsibilities, and capabilities. Once this information is gathered, the EOP is developed and reviewed for accuracy. The plan is then tested and evaluated through drills and exercises.

The EOP is managed by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Director. The Director is responsible for coordinating the development and maintenance of the plan. The Director is also responsible for regularly updating, testing, and evaluating the plan. The Director is assisted by the Planning Section Chief, responsible for collecting and analyzing information and providing guidance to the EOC Director. The Director and the Planning Section Chief are also in charge of working with other organizations to make sure the plan is thorough and efficient.

The EOP is also maintained through a regular cycle of training, evaluating, reviewing, and updating. All personnel involved in emergency response operations are trained and evaluated on the EOP. The plan is then reviewed and updated as needed. The EOP is also tested and evaluated through drills and exercises to ensure it is effective and up to date.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations Plan identifies numerous laws, statutes, ordinances, executive orders, regulations, and formal agreements relevant to emergency management in the Borough (Nwogugu, 2021). These include the Alaska State Constitution, the Alaska Statutes, the Alaska Administrative Code, the Alaska Emergency Management Act, the Local Emergency Planning Commission Act, the Alaska Disaster Act, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Management Plan, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Fire Protection Code, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Building Code, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Water, and Sewer Code, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Solid Waste Code, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Health Code, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Fire Code, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services Plan.

The EOP outlines the extent and limits of the emergency authorities granted to the senior official. These authorities include the power to declare a local emergency, to take all necessary and reasonable steps to respond to an emergency, to request assistance from other governmental agencies, and to allocate funds and resources in an emergency. These authorities are effective when the senior official deems an emergency exists or is imminent and are terminated when the emergency is declared over or when the senior official determines that the emergency is no longer imminent.

The EOP provisions for pre-delegation of emergency authorities include measures that would enable the elected or appointed leadership or their designated successors to exercise specific emergency-related authorities in the event of an emergency. It includes the authority to declare a local emergency and request assistance from other governmental agencies. It also includes the authority to allocate funds and resources in an emergency and take all necessary and reasonable steps to respond to it.

To guarantee that crucial emergency tasks can be carried out in the case of a disaster, the EOP includes provisions for COOP and COG. To guarantee that the proper reactions to emergencies can be made, it includes standards for the transfer of decision-making and operational control. The EOP also outlines a plan for the continuity of essential services, including public safety, health and welfare, and public works. The plan ensures that the Borough can maintain critical services and operations during an emergency.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations Plan establishes a clear and efficient framework for direction, control, and coordination activities in response to an emergency. The many agencies and organizations participating in the emergency response are described in detail in this section of the EOP, along with the information gathering, analysis, and dissemination procedures that will be employed to guarantee a coordinated response. The EOP also includes provisions for COOP and COG to ensure that crucial emergency functions may be carried out, as well as the legal foundation for emergency operations and activities. It ensures that all participating agencies and organizations can work together efficiently and effectively to manage emergency response operations and protect the community during times of crisis.

Hanlin, E. R., & Schulz, K. (2021). Incident command system and National Incident Management System. Emergency Medical Services, 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119756279.ch95

Nwogugu, M. I. C. (2021). Complex Systems, Pandemics, and the Welfare State, Part-2: Constitutional Political Economy, Compliance and Constitutional Contagion Issues. Geopolitical Risk, Sustainability and “Cross-Border Spillovers” in Emerging Markets, Volume II, 455–573. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71419-2_7

Venzin, M. (2020). Develop a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The Membership Management Report, 16(5), 2–2. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmr.31461