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Earthquake locations on Nov. 1, 2015. Photo by: AZGS |
Three earthquakes rattled the Arizona landscape not too
long ago. The strongest registered a magnitude of 4.1. It was enough to get
everyone talking about the chances of a larger magnitude earthquake striking
Arizona.
Coincidently, the Arizona Department of Emergency andMilitary Affairs (DEMA) hosted a statewide exercise three days later focused on
responding to an earthquake. We exercise regularly in emergency management as a
way to ensure we are prepared for potential emergencies. Exercising different
scenarios provides participating agencies an opportunity to test and evaluate
plans, procedures and capabilities in response to an event.
The earthquake scenario was chosen after DEMA’s exercise
branch reviewed prior exercises and discussed the potential for different
disasters. Realizing an earthquake exercise hadn’t been done in recent years,
the team worked with the Arizona Geological Survey to fill in necessary details
such as the potential strength and location of an earthquake.
Arizona has active faults across the state. The Lake Mary
and Hurricane faults lie in northern Arizona. The Algodones and Santa Rita faults
are in the southern part of the state. The Big Chino Fault runs through central
Arizona, and the Safford Fault is in the eastern portion of our state. These
faults are capable of producing earthquakes that range from magnitude 6.0 to
7.5. Earthquakes that strong can cause severe damage.
DEMA invited multiple state and county agencies to
participate in the exercise as well as non-governmental and volunteer partners.
More than 75 agencies participated in the one-day exercise.
The exercise began and 6 a.m. when a notional earthquake
struck near Paulden, Ariz. in Yavapai County. Yavapai County began their
response at that time.
Inside the SEOC Nov. 4. 1015 |
Meanwhile, in Phoenix, I received a call at 7:45 a.m. to attend
a meeting. DEMA decision makers were huddled
in a room, gathering what information they needed from Yavapai County in order
to make a determination as to whether needed to activate the State Emergency
Operations Center (SEOC).
The SEOC, located at Papago Park Military Reservation,
coordinates the State response to emergencies and disasters. When an incident
occurs, representatives from multiple agencies gather at the SEOC to work side-by-side.
The SEOC allows representatives from transportation, law
enforcement, health, military, volunteer agencies, and more, to work closely
together during the response and recovery process of an incident.
The decision was made to activate the SEOC pretty quickly
after hearing about the strength of the quake and the initial damage reports.
We broke from the meeting and I headed back to my desk.
Five minutes later, I got an automated call from state communicator system,
which directed me to report to the SEOC. I gathered my laptop, notebook and
coffee, and walked to the SEOC.
I was the Lead Public Information Officer (PIO) during
the exercise. My responsibilities were to coordinate and implement
communication strategies, write media advisories and news releases as needed,
respond to media inquires, issue timely and accurate information, and attend
meetings to ensure current knowledge of situation.
Inside the SEOC Nov. 4, 2015 |
As I sat in the SEOC, working on a fictitious news
release about Governor Ducey declaring a state of emergency, I listened to the
conversations around me: representatives from the Arizona Department of
Transportation and Maricopa County discussed roads and bridges; Civil Air
Patrol and National Guard planned flights to the scene to get aerial images;
and Red Cross and DEMA Recovery determined sheltering needs. It was clear that
the SEOC was running as it should with response and recovery efforts under way
to assist the affected community and its people.
The exercise ended around 3 p.m., after the SEOC had
coordinated many plans of action, mapped the damage, posted electronic signs
and closed roads, received photos of the area, allocated resources and
personnel, and shared a lot of information.
The real earthquakes and the exercise
are good reminders that we need to prepare for disasters, no matter how
infrequent. Make sure your family communication plan is updated with important
phone numbers, an out-of-town contact, and evacuation plans. Double-check that
your emergency supplies kit is well stocked with enough food, water and
supplies to last at least three days. For more preparedness tips, visit the Arizona
Emergency Information Network (AzEIN).
1 comment:
When California has the Big Earthquake that will destroy that area, we will not only feel the earthquake but our state will suffer damage from it. It is good to be prepared.
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