SECC Preparedness Levels

State of Alaska DMVA DHS&EM

SECC Levels
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1. DHS&EM has established five SECC preparedness levels. They are detailed below.

Level 1 indicates routine operations. Occurring and forecasted events present little, if any threat. 24/7/365 SECC Staff and SECC Manager conduct normal activities. This includes evaluating the situation, publishing the Daily Situation Report and conducting the Daily Director’s Brief. Events are being managed successfully by the appropriate agency with no requirement for additional support.

	Level 2 indicates a heightened sense of awareness. Occurring or forecasted events include a potential or present threat. [Examples: weather or river watch/warning, multiple fire ignitions, extended search and rescue, or a law enforcement action.] Events exceed routine, but responsible offices are able to manage with additional support from commonly used sources. DHS&EM may field reconnaissance teams. SECC Manager may activate additional SECC staff. SECC Staff and SECC Manager continue to evaluate situation, publish Daily Situation Report and conduct Daily Director’s Brief. Unless activated to fill an SECC position, routine DHS&EM staff is in place.
	Level 3 indicates an actual event occurred. [Examples: river flooding disrupts public transportation, extended search and rescue requires interagency support, or a wild land fire requires evacuation and shelter planning.] A local emergency operations center may be activated, a local disaster may be declared, or DHS&EM may send out an incident management team to react to a local crisis. Any situation clearly beyond a local community’s capability to respond will prompt elevation of SECC operations to this level. SECC is staffed and open extended hours to satisfy event requirements. DHS&EM staffing is adjusted as needed by recall of personnel on routine annual leave and travel status. DHS&EM may require augmentation from other agencies, both for field teams and in the SECC. Daily Situation Reporting and Briefing requirements continue. Additional information reporting requirements may be necessary to keep government(s) apprised of situation(s). The Disaster Policy Cabinet may be activated.
	Level 4 operations occur in response to a major life threatening or property damaging event. [Examples: a river flood, sea storm surge or tsunami displaces residents and damages structures, an extended search and rescue operation is conducted to find multiple victims, or a wild-land fire requires evacuation and sheltering of residents.] Event exceeds agency or local emergency management capability and requires significant mobilization of statewide emergency resources from agencies in multiple levels of government. Disaster Policy Cabinet (DPC) is activated and meets to review situation. Usually a State disaster declaration is in effect or has been recommended to the Governor. DHS&EM is fully involved in support and coordination of event(s). Augmented SECC operates 24 hours per day. DHS&EM staffing is adjusted by recall of personnel on routine annual leave and travel status. Incident Management Team(s) are likely mobilized. DHS&EM may require augmentation from other agencies, both for field teams and in the SECC. Information reporting is augmented to keep Governor’s office and DPC fully apprised of situation progress. FEMA Region X is notified of the situation.
	Level 5 operations occur in the event of a major loss of life, considerable property or environmental damage, or a significant threat thereof. [Examples: major earthquake or tsunami in a populated area, widespread flooding displaces and damages entire communities, terrorism attack with multiple victims and high probable loss of life, or a wild land fire burns through one or more communities.] Event exceeds statewide capability and requires significant mobilization of federal and other resources from outside Alaska. SECC operates 24 hours per day. DHS&EM is fully involved in support and coordination of event(s) and staffing is adjusted by recall of personnel on annual leave and travel status and augmented by activation of other agency personnel. A federal disaster declaration is in effect or has been requested by the Governor. Incident Management Team(s) are mobilized. DPC is activated and meets routinely for review of situation. Information reporting is augmented to keep Governor’s office and DPC fully apprised of situation progress.

2. Current preparedness level will be identified on DHS&EM Daily Situation Updates. SECC Manager will monitor the statewide situation and recommend the appropriate preparedness level each day. The decision to go to Level 3 or above normally requires consultation with the CTOC Manager or Division Director. The parameters identified in each level are to be used as general guidance. Criteria used for establishing the preparedness levels may include:

	actual or forecasted weather events that may cause significant impacts to people and their property throughout the State,
	occurring or predicted geologic events that can cause impacts to people, property and transportation systems [Normally these will be volcanic eruptions or increases in seismicity which are precursors to volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes could change preparedness levels, however that will normally occur after the event.],
	wild land fire activity throughout the State which impacts DHS&EM response capabilities [Normally, Alaska Interagency Fire Coordination Center (AIFCC) advanced preparedness levels do not directly impact the DHS&EM levels.],
	availability of emergency response and recovery resources statewide, both people and equipment [Normally, DHS&EM will first turn to the Alaska State Defense Force and then Division of Forestry for augmentation in the SECC and for field teams. DMVA Communications Teams may also be considered.],
	significant events occurring in communities that may impact their response capabilities [Could be power system failures, water and sewer system problems, large fires, etc.].

P.O. Box 5750, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-5750
Phone: (907)428-7000 Fax: (907)428-7009
dhs&em_emergency_mgmt@ak-prepared.com