Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Our Mission

- Develop, coordinate, and deliver Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management campaigns such as Ready Alaska and Responder Ready to support Division mission and goals.
- Partner with local, State, and Federal agencies to coordinate, develop, and distribute public preparedness educational opportunities, such as National Preparedness Month (NPM) and Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP).
- Maintain, deliver and operate the Quake Cabin (Earthquake Simulator) for schools, local preparedness events, and scheduled public venues.
- Support Citizens Corps (CCP) and other volunteer programs.

Quicklinks

Spring Preparedness Conference 2012
Alaska Preparedness Month- September 2011
Outreach Coordinators
Ready Alaska
Quake Cabin
Responder Ready
Student Tools for Emergency Planning
Citizen Corps
Preparedness Conferences
Social Media
Schedule of Events

Alaska Preparedness Month - September 2011

Alaska participates in National Preparedness Month, and encourages Alaskans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, organizations, businesses and communities. This September marks the eighth annual National Preparedness Month. This year’s theme, in remembrance of the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is “A Time to Remember, A Time to Prepare”.

Governor's Declaration

NPM Posters (pdf format)

NPM Posters (customizable-in Microsoft Publisher format)

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Ready Alaska

Ready Alaska is the Alaska all-hazards disaster preparedness campaign to ensure all Alaskans “Be Informed, Make a Plan, Gather supplies, and get Involved.” The campaign emphasizes the national theme of Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed. Ready Alaska encompasses programs such as Responder Ready, Read Ready, and (coming soon) Restaurant Ready.

Gather Supplies Links/Products:

Make a Plan Links/Products:

Be Informed Links/Products:

Earthquake in Alaska booklet
NWS AK HQ
USGS-Earthquake
Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Alaska Avalanche Information Center
Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) (Wildfire)

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Quake Cabin (Earthquake Simulator)
Quake Cabin Exhibit

The “Quake Cabin” is designed as a mobile earthquake simulator able to simulate up to an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Completely portable, it is designed as a rustic cabin mounted on a dual-axle trailer.

The interior, which is easily viewed from a large audience window, is designed to resemble a typical family room. It features a fully equipped entertainment center seating for three with all the contents are seismically fastened to protect the occupants and demonstrate how violent yet survivable a major earthquake can be.

Potential venues should be accessible by the road system, and include local, regional and state health, safety, preparedness and science fairs; corporate disaster preparedness seminars; school and university events; and trade shows. Availability for events is generally from May through October, and is dependent on staff-available basis.

Request a Quake Cabin Event: Contact sam.hutchinson@alaska.gov

Parental Consent Form

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Responder Ready

Responder Ready is a Disaster Preparedness awareness program targeted to Alaska first responders and their families. First responders include fire, police, troopers, VPSO, EMS, health care, emergency management, public health, health aide, public works, National Guard and other skilled support personnel (such as equipment operators) that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations.

Responders have a responsibility to provide essential services to respond to the impacts of disaster on the community. In order to provide these essential services, responders must take appropriate steps to prepare themselves and their families for disasters, so that they may be able to perform their jobs when a disaster strikes.

The Responder Ready program provides awareness training on why responders and their families need to be prepared, guidance on organizational preparedness, family emergency planning, and assembling emergency kits.

The Responder Ready “Tool kit” is provided below. A typical Responder Ready presentation is 1.5 hours, and includes a Powerpoint presentation by one or two DHS&EM Outreach personnel, a family emergency planning package, a demonstration emergency kit, and a “Responder Relay” activity. The presentation is tailorable to an organization’s needs with regard to venue, time, and material covered.

Request a Responder Ready Training Event: Contact sam.hutchinson@alaska.gov

Product Links

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Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP)

Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) is a program that teaches 4th and 5th grade students what to do in emergency scenarios and empowers them to implement life-saving preparedness initiatives at home. The program was developed by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) and is sponsored by FEMA.

STEP is offered at zero cost to schools; only requires 1 hour of instructional time during the school year; supplies up to 15 hours of optional materials that can cover a variety of subject areas and align with national and state standards; amd provides teachers with all the instructional materials needed, including copies of student handouts, instructional booklets, and DVD’s.

For more information about STEP, see the Information Sheets and/or the link posted below:

For more information about getting STEP for your school, teacher, counselors, administrators may contact Sam Hutchinson at sam.hutchinson@alaska.gov, or at (907)428-7045.

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