Charter

Under the authority of Section 1, Article VIII, State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) Bylaws, I hereby establish the Disaster Search and Rescue (DSR) Committee, as an ad hoc committee of the SERC, to enhance USAR capabilities within Alaska.

Duties

The Committee shall meet at the direction of its chairperson to accomplish the following objectives: (1) identify existing DSR capabilities and deficiencies within the State, (2) take short-term steps using existing resources to increase DSR preparedness in Alaska, and (3) make recommendations to the SERC for long-term steps, which may require additional resources, that would further enhance the State’s DSR capabilities.

Officers

The representative from the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will serve as the Committee chairperson and will arrange for necessary staff support. Each department or agency must provide funding support from its operating budget for its Committee representative.

Work Plan

The Committee provided its first report to the SERC at the SERC’s January 7, 1998, meeting. Subsequent status reports are made to the SERC at the SERC’s quarterly meetings.

Committee Composition

At a minimum, the Disaster Search and Rescue (DSR) Committee shall consist of representatives from the Anchorage Fire Department, the Municipality of Anchorage, the Alaska State Troopers (AST), the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM), the State Division of Natural Resources (DNR), the AK State Fire Chiefs Association, the Alaska National Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Coast Guard – District 17 and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).