A magnitude 7 earthquake was recorded in Anchorage Friday morning causing major infrastructure damage. Many government facilities remain closed.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Skagway is examining how that community would respond to a major emergency.
Skagway Police Chief Ray Leggit is working with the municipality’s Local Emergency Planning Committee on an existing safety plan called You Are the Help Until Help Arrives.
The program, created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, teaches residents and community members basic response strategies. It teaches residents how to position the injured during a disaster, protect them from further harm, stop bleeding, and provide comfort until emergency services arrive.
At a borough assembly meeting in November, Mayor Monica Carlson said all of Skagway needs to be prepared for a disaster.
“This plan must include all of the community,” Carlson said. “There is nothing to say that an earthquake, fire or ship accident will not happen here in Skagway. We must be prepared. Every resident brings their knowledge and skill to this drill. The children of Skagway will even play a part.”
Carlson hopes to offer public classes based on the FEMA program in Skagway.
In addition, the Local Emergency Planning Committee is working on a major disaster drill to be carried out sometime in the spring.
“The last time the city conducted this drill was 10 years ago, while I was on assembly. It’s time we all became better prepared and we can never be prepared enough,” Carlson said.
The drill would be a simulation of how the municipality would respond to a mass casualty situation. According to Carlson, it will require coordinating emergency responders, transportation and communication across town.
“Our town is so unique, we have a mountain railroad, a steep mountain pass, motor coaches, trains, ships, airplanes. There are a lot of moving pieces in Skagway that need to work together if there was anything to happen in our community. It’s good to do so you know where your shortcomings are because we’ll be alone for a while until help arrives,” Carlson said.