course material

1. Local and State Law Enforcement
Local and State Law EnforcementAnchorage is a municipality located in the South-Central
region of the state of Alaska, the largest state in America. It is located in a valley which is
surrounded by mountains resulting in warmer temperatures than those experienced in
other parts of the state. Anchorage municipality covers a landmass of approximately 1,704
square miles and contains an estimated population of 295, 570 people (“ Anchorage
Municipality,” 2012). This municipality’ s location makes it be susceptible to numerous
natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes and other extreme weather
occurrences. According to reports, the rates at which earthquakes can cause damage are
higher in Anchorage than in the entire state of Alaska and the United States at large
(“ Anchorage AK,” 2012). In 1964, the worst ever earthquake in the history of North
America, known as the Good Friday earthquake hit Anchorage (“ Information on
Anchorage,” 2009). In addition to the natural disasters, the municipality faces terror
threats just like other parts of Alaska and greater America. For this reasons, it is imperative
that a local plan is devised to deal with the looming dangers arising from natural disasters
such as storms and volcanoes, as well as, terror attacks.Local, State, federal, humanitarian,
private, non-governmental and other actors can be involved in dealing with such calamities
through an official agreement (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). At the local level, the Anchorage
police department, the fire department, local hospitals and Anchorage ambulance and
rescue services (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). At State level, the following departments should
be involved; Office of the Governor, State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), the Alaska
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (AKDHS&EM), Alaska
Information and Analysis center (AKIAC), Alaska Earthquake information Center (AEIC) and
the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). At the federal level,
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI),
The U.S. Military, U.S. Coast guard, Alaskan Command (ALCOM), Center for Disease Control
(CDC), National Warning Center (NWC), and National Weather Service (NWS) should be
incorporated (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). Contributions could also come from non
governmental agencies and churches such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army
respectively.These organizations are chosen based on their general roles and
responsibilities. These agencies are required to come together during terrorist or
catastrophic event in order to pool their resources and increase their collective capacity to
address any such event effectively and efficiently (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). All the
organizations as mentioned have the capacity to deal with specific issues, for instance in

2. case of a fire the fire department is best positioned to deal with this given their training and
equipments used in their operations (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). The functions of these
organizations fall within different categories in line with their capacity such as Firefighting,
communication, emergency management, transportation, public security and safety and
search and rescue.This agreement will not affect their current responsibilities and will work
if the capacities of the organization are streamlined. The agreement is just a plan on how to
respond to disasters efficiently and effectively, and this is done by assigning roles to
organizations, and these roles have to fall in line with their general responsibilities. The
determination of the official communication channels through the plan will reduce and at
times eliminate misunderstandings instead giving the organizations an opportunity to focus
on their responsibilities.The police department will substantially provide security to the
affected areas. The police will also get involved in search and rescue operations; clear the
streets and direct traffic and can also provide transportation (“ Plan and Prepare for
Disasters,” n.d.). The fire department is expected to contain cases of fire and evacuate
people who are affected and those at proximity. They can also be involved in search and
rescue and also provide transportation. The local hospitals are to provide facilitation for the
treatment of the injured. The ambulance and rescue services are expected to provide
speedy transport of the injured to hospitals and can also provide first aid or light medical
assistance. The office of the Governor is expected to inform the public of events by declaring
a state of emergency or disaster emergency. The SEOC is expected to coordinate and control
information and communications. It is also tasked with determination of the alert level as
communicated by other organizations.The AKDHS&EM is expected to provide financial
assistance in the affected areas (Reese, 2007). The AKIAC is expected to provide public
information, communication, warning and alert notification. The AEIC is expected to
provide public information, notifications, alerts and warnings particularly when it revolves
around earthquakes (“ Emergency Management,” n.d.). The AVO is expected to issue alerts
on situations concerning volcanic activity and can also provide financial and administration
services (“ Natural Disasters,” 2008). The FEMA is expected to provide control and
coordination within the federal level organization (“ Disaster Recovery Centers,” 2003).
The FBI is expected to carry out investigations to ascertain the true nature of the events in
case of terrorism (“ Terrorism Incident Law,” 2004) The Military is expected to provide
security and evacuation procedures. They can also be involved in search and rescue
procedures (“ Building a Resilient Nation,” n.d.). The U.S Coast guard is expected to
maintain security along the coast line and can also be involved in search and rescue
operations.The ALCOM is expected to provide information and communications revolving
around the events of the catastrophe (“ Building a Resilient Nation,” n.d.). The CDC is
expected to carry out evacuation procedures around areas where there is an outbreak or
threat of an outbreak of a disease. They will also be tasked with provision of medical
services and financial and administration services. The NWC is expected to issue warnings
on the situation to the wider public. The NWS is expected to provide the public with
information concerning the weather and the impact it might have. The American Red Cross
and Salvation Army are expected to deal with the humanitarian crisis that comes as a result
of terrorist or catastrophic events.One organization should be appointed the lead to ensure

3. all the agencies speak in one voice and their commands or directives do not interfere or
conflict with one another. The organization to be tasked with this responsibility should have
different capacities, which are highly, developed to be appointed as the command or control
centre (“ State of Alaska,” 2011). It will be best if this organization has space to work with
representatives from all the other organizations within the plan to ensure smooth
communications.ReferencesAnchorage, AK Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.usa.com/anchorage-ak-natural-disasters-
extremes.htmAnchorage Municipality. (2012). State and County Quick Facts. Retrieved from
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02/02020.htmlBuilding a Resilient Nation. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/building-resilient-nationDisaster Recovery Centres.
(2003). Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/news-release/disaster recovery-centers-
anchorage-palmer-closeEmergency Management. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.muni.org/Departments/OEM/EOC/Pages/default.aspxInformation on
Anchorage. (2009). Retrieved from
http://www.washington.edu/medicine/som/depts/medex/applicants/trainin
sites_anchorage.tmNatural Disasters. (2008). Retrieved from http://akcenter.org/climate-
energy/effects-of-climate change/cost-of-natural-disastersPlan and Prepare for Disasters.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/topic/plan-and-prepare disastersReese, S.
(2007). State and Urban Area Homeland Security Plans and Exercises: Issues for the 110th
Congress. Retrieved from http://www.dtic.mil/cgi bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA467265State of
Alaska Emergency Operations Plan. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.akprepared.com/documents/State%20of%20Alaska%20Emergency%20Ope
ations%20Pla%202 11_12_22_2011.pdfTerrorism Incident Law and Investigation Annex
National Response Plan. (2004). Retrieved from
http://www.learningservices.us/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrp_terrorismincidentlawenforceme
n annx.pdf