Emergency Operations Plan

The City and Borough of Wrangell has contracted with Katmai Preparedness Solutions LLC (Katmai Solutions) to collaborate with staff, stakeholders, and community partners to update the Borough’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). This effort will ensure the plan reflects the latest best practices, operational needs, and lessons learned from past incidents. The updated EOP will serve as a foundational document for coordinated emergency response, outlining roles, responsibilities, and procedures to guide the Borough during emergencies.

The EOP update will align with FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101, Version 3, and will meet all requirements for state and federal compliance. It will include robust procedures for all-hazard emergency management, address critical response and recovery functions, and incorporate a streamlined structure to enhance operational efficiency during emergencies.

What is Emergency Operations Planning?

Emergency operations planning involves identifying and organizing the resources, procedures, and strategies necessary to effectively respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters. The goal is to protect lives, property, and the environment by ensuring all stakeholders understand their roles and can work together efficiently under any conditions.

While disasters may be sudden and unpredictable, well-developed emergency plans empower communities to respond proactively and minimize their impact. Emergency Operations Plans guide actions during a crisis, including communication, coordination, resource allocation, and decision-making processes. They are essential for ensuring a timely, organized, and effective response to emergencies.

What is an Emergency Operations Plan?

An Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is a comprehensive document that describes how a jurisdiction will manage emergencies and disasters. It identifies key responsibilities, outlines operational structures, and provides detailed instructions for response and recovery activities.

The EOP is organized around functional areas such as command and control, communication, evacuation, and sheltering. It establishes an Incident Command System (ICS)-based structure to enable coordinated decision-making and resource management. The EOP also includes annexes tailored to specific hazards, such as severe storms, earthquakes, and technological or human-caused incidents.

Purpose and Need for the Plan

An EOP is developed to guide emergency response actions before, during, and after a disaster occurs. The plan ensures all responders understand their roles and responsibilities, allowing for a more coordinated, timely, and effective response.

Having a FEMA-compliant EOP ensures eligibility for federal funding under programs like the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and Public Assistance (PA) Program. Regularly updated and maintained, the EOP is critical for meeting compliance standards and ensuring the Borough remains prepared to handle emergencies.

Outcomes: Enhancing Readiness and Response

Updating the Emergency Operations Plan will lead to several key benefits for the City and Borough of Wrangell, including:

• Clearer roles and responsibilities: Ensuring all stakeholders know their duties and how to coordinate effectively.

• Improved interagency coordination: Strengthening collaboration among local, state, federal, and private partners.

• Enhanced operational efficiency: Streamlining response procedures for faster, more effective action during emergencies.

• Eligibility for federal assistance: Meeting FEMA and state requirements to maintain funding eligibility.

• Reduced impacts from disasters: Limiting the effects of emergencies on lives, property, and critical infrastructure.

Participation

The EOP update will involve input from a wide range of stakeholders, including emergency response agencies, community organizations, businesses, and residents. Their perspectives are crucial to ensuring the plan reflects local priorities and capabilities.

Katmai Solutions will conduct workshops, interviews, and surveys to gather input. Stakeholders will also have opportunities to review and comment on draft sections of the plan. This inclusive approach ensures the EOP is practical, actionable, and broadly supported by the community.

The planning process for the EOP update will follow these critical steps:

1. Organize the planning team – Engage stakeholders and establish a core planning team.

2. Review existing plans – Analyze the current EOP, recent incidents, and lessons learned.

3. Assess risks and capabilities – Identify potential hazards and evaluate the Borough’s current response capacity.

4. Develop goals and objectives – Define clear, actionable priorities for emergency response and recovery.

5. Draft the base plan and annexes – Create the EOP framework and hazard-specific annexes.

6. Conduct stakeholder review – Share drafts with stakeholders for feedback and refinement.

7. Adopt the plan – Present the final plan to Borough leadership for approval.

8. Implement and maintain the plan – Train personnel, conduct exercises, and update the EOP regularly to ensure its effectiveness.

Through this process, the City and Borough of Wrangell will build a robust Emergency Operations Plan that enhances resilience and ensures a coordinated response to any emergency.

If you would like more information regarding how to get involved in the project, please contact Dorianne Sprehe at wrgfd@wrangell.com 

If you have any feedback, please share with Dan Nelson, lead planner for this project, at dan.nelson@katmaisolutions.com