Matanuska-Susitna Borough is a region found in Alaska State in America. There are a total of 88,995 people in the area according to 2010 census conducted in United States. Wasilla is the largest city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough while Palmer is the region’s seat.
This paper is a research on Matanuska-Susitna Borough Emergency Operation Plan’s Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities.
Emergency Operations Plan purpose is to guarantee a customized or modified disaster emergency response that demands coordination among the jurisdictions, departments and agencies.
Each time there is a tragic calamity that can radically menace human surrounding, wellbeing or belongings, emergency operations plan is usually stimulated. After an emergency has been determined, those people who are designated as response for managing the situation are always authorized to consign necessary resources needed to conduct and provide the plan.
Emergency operations schedule is normally schemed to convene all the basic constraints of emergency scheduling of the state, and national agencies, and departments in the capital city Borough. It has jurisdiction beyond these issues. Disaster emergencies should be effectively and efficiently managed in regional, municipal and industrial areas.
Emergency Operations Plan should be revised and updated on a regular basis to enable it reflect cultured lessons obtained during actual incidences and drillings. The plan does not having imply any form of guarantee.
This is why Matanuska-Susitna Borough can only thrive by putting extra efforts while reacting to the circumstances at hand. In this phase, you may discover that Borough systems and belongings are all wiped out, beleaguered or smashed in case of emergency.
Emergency Operation Plan’s Organization
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Emergency Operation Plan’s Organization is linked to National Incident Management System (NIMS) structure for emergency operations schemes in the society.
There are four parts whereby the first section contains the major plan which address the main requirements for National Incident Management Systems for amenable emergency operations plans. It centers majorly on governmental policies and systems for scheming of emergency in Borough.
The second component of the organization includes a vulnerable-explicit reaction checklist that is used to recognize all the dangers that Matanuska-Susitna Borough is confronting.
For every risk found, there are explicit checklists alienated into three response stages namely: recuperation, admonition and retort. Within the checklists, exploited items are placed in the remote parts of the organizations and an IMT location is usually marked.
The third part of the organization includes Functional Annexes whereby the annexes deal with discrete module of emergency response operations. Its other roles are to assign responsibilities and duties necessary for emergency operations to be carried out.
It also describes the operational concepts that are to be used in the process. The forth component contains the guidebook for resources which outlines the strengths of emergency retort and supplies of Borough agencies and those of other national, regional and state bureau including freelance workers of private organizations. Lastly, the fifth section encloses the appendices as well as lexicon, handset index and acronyms.
There are numerous emergency operations plans and policies both in the regional, national and state which are in conjunction with organization of the plan and ensuring its success.
There is National Infrastructure Protection Plan which is responsible for enabling effective and efficient response to unpleasant events occurring within Matanuska-Susitna Borough. They also protect critical infrastructures and other major resources available in the region.
On the other hand, National Contingency Scheme is responsible for stipulation of the methods used in emancipation and discharge of harmful oil particles in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Mat-Su Borough All-harmful Mitigation Scheme main intention is to minimize the catastrophe and effects of emergency.
On the other hand, Mat-Su Borough Department of Emergency Services is accountable for emergency scheming and positioning of resources for the bureau within Borough. Mat-Su Borough School District Emergency Operations Schemes is accountable for all the activities taking place in School District Administrative Offices.
It mainly outlines the process and strategies for countering and managing calamity rates that negatively affect District School. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Emergency Operations Plan outlines emergency procedures in the hospitals while Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) Disaster Management Plan outlines emergency plans for managing electric utility in the region.
Assignment of Responsibilities
Matanuska-Susitna Borough as a region utilizes all emergency management system for hazards that includes different kinds of disaster emergencies. Each government in every level has the power to integrate resources from the private sectors with that of public agency under National Incident Management System/Incident Command System.
This scheme integrates and optimizes all government ranks with the trained workforce, classified sectors in the emergency department. This practice is normally crucial for realization of successful scheme. This is why it is normally promoted. The following are different roles assigned to government officials in Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Borough Mayor and Assembly
The Borough Mayor and Assembly are accountable for stipulation of legislative control during crisis periods. They offer appropriate funds essential for recovery and response to disaster emergency in Borough. They also act as direct liaison with elected government jurisdiction officials and the public.
Borough Manager
The Borough Manager is Matanuska-Susitna Borough agency administrator. He has the authority and the ultimate mandate to control and direct how resources are being used in Borough during emergency periods. The Borough Manager has the authority to declare emergency to the public.
Nevertheless, Incident Commander and some other authority normally declare emergency in Matanuska-Susitna Borough on daily basis. The Departments of Emergency Services in Borough usually ascertain control over emergency using Incident Command System.
The Borough Manager can also perform the Incident Commander responsibilities if given the chance to develop emergency operations by vindicating on what to accomplish. The lead agency/department is responsible for operational control of emergency prospects.
Department of Emergency Services
The Department of Emergency Services in Matanuska-Susitna Borough is a crisis management bureau responsible for creating advancement in calamity response by formulating recovery schemes in Borough.
He also synchronizes calamity management between Borough and other revalorizations and response divisions in the institution. This sector is also accountable for synchronizing and categorizing concerts with classified industries and bureaus in Matanuska-Susitna Borough while making an effort to espouse and build up schemes for organizing crisis calamities which normally takes place in the area.
The Department of Emergency Services usually stimulates these schemes and proclaims regional disaster and crisis affairs under AS 26.23.140 terms (Craig 2010). Emergency management will be provided under all emergency action plans under the ICS format.
This normally provides an oversight necessary for making inter-jurisdictional verdicts by Multiple Agency Coordination (MAC) structure. This structure grants representation from the affected jurisdiction.
Director of Emergency Services
The Director of Emergency Services manage disaster programs and activities in Borough as they relay mitigation of, response to, recovery from and preparedness for disaster emergencies.
This service is however under general supervision and direction of Borough Manager since he controls all their actions and gives them command. The Director of Emergency Services grants direct connection between regional boards, Borough Manager’s Office, Borough 911 Advisory Boards and Borough Local Emergency Planning Committee (Fritz & Barton 2002).
He also directs and makes certain that there is an open line communication within Borough administration and the Assembly. The Director of Emergency Services also has the mandate of fulfilling Community Emergency Coordinator role based on AS 26.23 and SARA Title III.
The deputy Director of Emergency Services is the nominated alternate to and the immediate successor of the Director of Emergency Services. This means that he can coordinate and conduct all the duties and responsibilities of the Director of Emergency Services in his absence.
Emergency Manager
The Emergency Manager in Matanuska-Susitna Borough is accountable for executing emergency schemes in the region including arrangement of response, peril alleviation scheme, calamity awareness and occasional recovery of the perils spotted in the area.
The Emergency Manager is also the coordinates operations in Emergency Operations Center throughout disaster response period. He also operates as Incident Recovery Coordinator in the improvement phase. The Director of Emergency Services is the head of Emergency Manager since he reports directly to his office.
Local Emergency Planning Committee
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Local Emergency Planning Committee is composed of 25 individuals. They represent environmental organizations responders, private citizens, public health, local and state government, media, industry, etc.
The main role of Local Emergency Planning committee is to carry out annual assessment of hazards in Borough, they coordinates requests and activities with other panels within the region to enhance safety, they assists the local people in Borough, the federal and state agencies who are conducting disaster exercises, they also coordinates local utilities, local governments and local industries within Borough during disaster planning.
Local Emergency Planning Committee also advocates for and evaluates perilous substances/objects when it comes to home transportation (Perry, Prater & Lindell 2006). They are also accountable for synchronizing emergency schemes in Borough and lastly they organize information appeals under state and national society.
Continuity of Government
Borough as a region which is governed and controlled by rules and regulations as per the constitution usually has continuity of government among its laws. This is in case major government official losses his/her life or gets an injury.
In case of such scenarios, the vacant seat is usually replaced after a short period of time. The main reason why they do this is to enhance effective leadership through continuity and to ensure that emergency departments operates throughout to unsure that lives are not lost and the damage caused is minimized.
This is why you will never find a vacant seat in emergency operation and recovery operations management in Borough.
Lines of Succession
If there is a case of abnormality or absenteeism in the government, there is always someone designated to succeed the person and assume his roles immediately especially in disaster and emergency departments in Borough.
If a manager is not in a position to perform his roles, then their duty will be assigned to someone else or the next of kin in line.
In conclusion, this paper has mainly addressed on Matanuska-Susitna Borough Emergency Operation Plan’s Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities.
References
Craig, F. (2010). FEMA Developing and maintaining Emergency Operations Plan. New York: Fema Publishers.
Fritz, M & Barton, Y. (2002). Emergency Response & Recovery Plan for Matanuska-Susitna Borough. New York: Free Press.
Perry, R., Prater, C., & Lindell, M. (2006). Fundamentals of emergency management. Web.