Homeland Security & Emergency Management: Alaska communities, boroughs infused with federal dollars.

• Author: Kalytiak, Tracy
• Position: SECURITY

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A deadly strain of flu originates in Mexico and sweeps north toward Alaska. Wildfires threaten homes in three Old Believer settlements near Homer. Floods inundate Eagle and other villages on the swollen Yukon River, knocking house-sized chunks of ice into some buildings and smashing others off their foundations. Mount Redoubt belches and spews steam and volcanic ash, coating the snow of many Southcentral communities with a layer of gray and wreaking havoc on air travel in the Last Frontier.

MITIGATING DISASTER

These disasters occurred nearly simultaneously this spring in Alaska, but the response to each ran smoothly thanks to the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the boroughs and cities whose emergency response resources have been infused with federal Homeland Security dollars.

"There are many states that have taken a more analytical and systems view in taking care of citizens, visitors and the economy," said John Madden, DHS director. "It's not just technology, putting in a system and hoping for the best. It involves understanding how things work, how goods and services move through the state and seeing how things could go wrong."

Madden says the Homeland Security division looks at the full range of hazards--what terrorists and criminals can do as well as damage avalanches and landslides can inflict--and makes the best application of money and resources with what is most critical or what interferes with goods and services delivery.

"If you look at the effects of a terrorist act and an act of nature, the effects are similar," Madden said. "But how to deter, mitigate consequences ... it's not just one solution, it's a range of them. Neither people nor nature cooperate by being logical. We look at things that can go wrong and see how we can prevent them, how to reduce the consequences of things we can't prevent and get the highest value for every dollar."

FEDERAL MONEY

Madden and his staff work with an intricate network of people throughout the state to prepare for and respond to disasters, and some of these people, in turn, receive assistance, training and supplies thanks to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which distributed a total of $5.94 million in grant money to Alaska recipients for 2008.

The grants covered four programs: Citizen Corps Preparedness, State Homeland Security, Emergency Management Performance and Metropolitan Medical Response System. The money was spread...