The Municipality will provide for evacuation from any area within the Municipality that is stricken or threatened by an emergency that jeopardizes human life. A citywide mass evacuation would likely occur only in the event of a terrorist incident. Factors such as magnitude, intensity, spread of onset, and duration of the emergency will determine the type of evacuation required. Area-to-area evacuations might be required because of a small-scale localized incident such as a hazardous materials accident, major fire, avalanche, transportation accident, or flooding.

Evacuation will be coordinated to locations that will provide safety and shelter. Sheltering in place or remaining at home may be a safe alternative when evacuation is not possible.

OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS

A.      An evacuation may be initiated by any of the following individuals:

·        Mayor

·        Police chief

·        Fire chief

·        Health and Human Services director

·        Emergency Operations Center (EOC) director

·        Senior law enforcement, fire services, or health officer at the scene of an emergency

B.      Area-to-area evacuations will be initially managed on-scene by the Fire Department, the Police Department, or Health and Human Services, who will immediately alert the EOC when the size and scope of the evacuation exceeds routine capacity.

C.      All mass evacuation information will be coordinated through the EOC and will be broadcast over the Emergency Alert System and the news media. Other forms of evacuation notification may include door-to-door notification, mobile sirens, public address systems, distribution of evacuation cards, and tagging homes.

D.     Once an authorized municipal official has ordered an evacuation, the Municipality will make every effort to evacuate all persons from a designated area. Any person who refuses to evacuate at the order of a municipal official will be advised by an emergency official of the associated risk and will be asked to sign a liability release document and surrender their identification for the duration of their entry provided that the entry does not impede the efforts of emergency officials.

E.      Agencies wishing to deliver services to vulnerable populations in evacuated or otherwise restricted areas should contact the EOC community services and public health branch to coordinate access. If conditions for limited entry are appropriate, the EOC will identify a process to expedite the travel of approved service providers.

F.      During a wildfire or other emergency requiring immediate evacuation, all residents needing evacuation transportation assistance will be given equal priority. Following an earthquake or other incident where immediate danger has passed, vulnerable populations will be given priority for evacuation transportation assistance.

G.     Protection of human life is the immediate goal of municipal emergency responders. During a disaster emergency, the Anchorage Police and Fire Departments are not responsible for the rescue, evacuation, sheltering, or welfare of animals.

H.    The Municipality will support the movement of evacuees transporting domestic household animals during an ordered evacuation. Residents should be prepared to evacuate their pets in a manner that does not threaten the safety or welfare of other evacuees.

I.        A public information officer will be dispatched to all evacuation assembly areas.

J.        During an evacuation, the Municipality will dedicate a majority of streets to egress. Other available streets will be used for ingress of emergency services.

K.      Whenever possible, evacuation traffic will be directed north during an area-wide or mass evacuation to an assembly area in Palmer or Wasilla. When time and circumstances do not allow for northern evacuation, a southern assembly area will be coordinated.

L.      Public transportation entities may be used to transport persons from designated evacuation assembly areas.

M.    Each individual or head of household within the Municipality is encouraged to develop a family disaster plan that includes maintaining the essential supplies to sustain for five to seven days in the event that evacuation is not possible.

N.    Businesses and private educational institutions should establish evacuation plans and be familiar with municipal evacuation directives as part of their emergency procedures.

O.     Child and adult day care facilities are required to establish evacuation plans, which are to be included in their all-hazards emergency plan and on file with the Municipality.

P.      Hospitals and residential care facilities within the Municipality will develop evacuation plans that include:

·        Partnerships with similar establishments in other parts of town and plans to evacuate their residents those locations during an area-to-area evacuation

·        Partnerships with similar establishments outside the Municipality and plans to evacuate their residents to those locations during an area-wide or mass evacuation

Q.     During an area-to-area evacuation, public schools will evacuate students to appropriate schools designated as shelters in a less affected area of town.

R.      The Municipality will provide shelters for persons unable to remain or return home during or after an evacuation.

S.       All evacuees are encouraged to register with the American Red Cross Disaster Welfare Inquiry System.

T.      When the conditions that caused the mandatory evacuation cease to exist, the EOC will coordinate reentry with the Anchorage Police and Fire Departments.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities listed herein are not intended to be departmental checklists. Each agency will develop internal policies and procedures to perform its assigned duties. At the discretion of the incident commander not all functions may be performed and nor all agencies used.

Primary Agencies

Anchorage Office of Emergency Management / Emergency Operations Center

1.      Coordinates overall strategic disaster response during a major emergency or disaster.

2.      Secures additional resources through state and federal agencies as needed.

3.      Coordinates with and supports requests from field agencies during a major emergency or disaster.

4.      Disseminates emergency evacuation information to the public and deploys field public information officers to evacuation assembly areas.

5.      Orders evacuations whenever necessary to protect lives and property.

6.      Coordinates the identification and establishment of evacuation routes, detour routes, and road closures and ensures coordination of evacuation routes with neighboring jurisdictions.

7.      Coordinates with the State of Alaska to ensure that state routes are cleared.

8.      Coordinates reentry with the Anchorage Police and Fire Departments when the conditions that caused the mandatory evacuation cease to exist.

Fire Department

1.      Orders evacuations whenever necessary to protect lives and property.

2.      Directs initial on-scene evacuation and coordinates overall incident response through the EOC upon its activation.

3.      Assists with dissemination of evacuation instructions and information to the public.

4.      Provides damage assessment to the EOC regarding the viability of evacuation routes.

Health and Human Services

1.      Orders evacuations whenever necessary to protect lives and property.

2.      Directs initial on-scene evacuation during a public health emergency and coordinates overall incident response through the EOC upon its activation.

3.      Assists with coordinating shelter and welfare services for evacuees.

4.      Coordinates with emergency medical services and local hospitals to provide evacuation information and special instructions for vulnerable populations.

5.      Coordinates with Public Transportation and other agencies during a relocation of vulnerable populations.

6.      Provides guidance to evacuees with logistics related to pet and animal evacuation.

Police Department

1.      Orders evacuations whenever necessary to protect lives and property.

2.      Directs initial on-scene evacuation and coordinates overall incident response through the EOC upon its activation.

3.      Assists with dissemination of evacuation instructions and information to the public.

4.      Provides damage assessment to the EOC regarding the viability of evacuation routes.

5.      Provides traffic and crowd control for evacuations.

6.      Manages access to and protects property within evacuated areas.

7.      Coordinates removal of stalled vehicles and equipment from evacuation routes.

8.      Assists in notifying the EOC regarding the location and welfare of affected citizens.

Public Transportation

1.      Coordinates mass transit requirements to support evacuation efforts.

2.      Ensures that accessible evacuation transportation is available to persons with disabilities.

Support Agencies

Amateur Radio Emergency Services

1.      Provides equipment and resources to enhance emergency communications capabilities between the EOC, evacuation centers, and other critical locations.

American Red Cross of Alaska

1.      Establishes a disaster welfare inquiry system to document the location and welfare of victims and displaced persons.

Maintenance and Operations Department, Street and Park Maintenance Division

1.      Installs traffic control signs and barricades and directs the operational control of traffic signals and flashers.

2.      Assists with the identification of evacuation routes.

3.      Assists with damage assessment including roadway and bridge safety assessment.

Salvation Army

1.      Assists in the provision of transportation for vulnerable populations.

School District

1.      Coordinates movement of students to safety and reports location to EOC.

2.      Contacts parents or guardians of evacuated students to advise of their location.

3.      Augments municipal evacuation activities when school is not in session or after ensuring the safety and evacuation of students.

MUTUAL AID, STATE, OR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

All state and federal assistance is coordinated through the State Emergency Coordination Center.

REFERENCES

Anchorage Emergency Operations Plan, Annex 3: Congregate Care

Anchorage Emergency Operations Plan, Annex 7: Vulnerable Populations

National Response Plan, ESF #1: Transportation

National Response Plan, ESF #6: Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services