Rural Resiliency Workshop for Emergency Preparedness Comes to Nome
June 12-14 the State Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHS&EM) and Kawerak’s Environmental Program are hosting a Rural Resiliency Workshop for Emergency Preparedness. The event will bring in 2 members from each of the communities of the Bering Strait to gather at the Nome Mini Convention Center to share emergency preparedness efforts happening around the region and current needs of the communities.
The intention of the workshop is to discuss emergency management coordination and facilitate conversation between communities to share lessons, concerns and solutions in disaster preparedness as well as explore resources to maximize access to state and federal programs. These steps will better prepare communities, mitigate risk and recover from future disasters more effectively and efficiently.
Workshop participants will receive an Incident Command System (ICS) orientation training to assist in bridging the communication gap experienced when contacting the State Emergency Operating Center (SEOC) for assistance during an emergency.
Other subjects that will be discussed are:
1. Local Emergency Planning Committee Description (LEPC) and duties
2. Oil spill response in small communities
3. Nome volunteer agencies supporting Fire, Ambulance, and Search and Rescue
4. Concerns about increased vessel traffic in area
5. NOAA and National Weather Service Products to assist small communities
6. Lessons Learned by Bering Strait Communities in recent disasters
7. Discuss emergency preparedness and response questions
Bering Strait regional organizations and Nome-based Emergency preparedness organizations are encouraged to send a representative to the workshop to assist in the collaborative discussion. Mike Sutton, Director of State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Paul Nelson, Deputy Director of DHSEM will also be in attendance.
Any questions about the meeting should be directed to Thomas Riley, thomas.riley@alaska.gov, (907) 428-7024 or Charlene Saclamana, csaclamana@kawerak.org, (907) 443-4337.