When disaster strikes, communities rely on the assistance of others to aid in recovery, and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management plays an important role in the delivery of these resources. Recovery activities range in scope from coordination of Idaho Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (IDAVOAD), to providing economic recovery assistance during local, State and Federal disaster events. Economic recovery assistance involves a broad range of partners, such as the Idaho Department of Commerce, Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), all sharing a common goal – to ensure disaster recovery is swift and complete.

IOEM Special Teams Mission:To protect lives, property and the environment throughout the state of Idaho by providing effective, coordinated support to citizens, first response agencies, Local Emergency Planning Committees, industry and state agencies.Special Teams:

Idaho Technical Rescue Teams Bomb SquadsRegional Hazmat TeamsIdaho Incident Management Support Teams

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Public Information Emergency Response

The Idaho Public Information Emergency Response Team (PIER) was created in 1997 to provide a critically important public information resource to the citizens of Idaho and local jurisdictions. All Idaho state agency Public Information Officers, or individuals within those state agencies designated as the PIO, are members of the PIER team. The PIER team exists to provide the right information to the right people at the right time during a major event or when necessary following a State Disaster Declaration. The PIER team can be activated when the IDEOC is activated. The group can also assist local jurisdictions when requested as it relates to collecting, verifying and disseminating important information to the public.

In June of 2016 Idaho participated in Cascadia Rising 2016. The functional exercise was eight years in the making. It was intended to test the local, state, tribal, and federal government’s ability to jointly respond to a Cascadia Subduction Zone 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami along the Pacific Northwest coastline. The exercise provided IOEM and a number of local jurisdictions with the opportunity to critically evaluate current plans, processes and partnerships in place to deal with natural and manmade disasters. The after action review (AAR) of this exercise highlighted strengths and weaknesses. This exercise and AAR proved to be invaluable and was the spring-board from which IOEM implemented necessary changes for better response to future incidents.

The seaward edge of the subduction zone, where the subducting plates begin their descent beneath the North American Plate.

The stuck, or “locked” part of the interface between the North American and subducting plates – the fault that breaks in great earthquakes.

CASCADIA RISING 2016 PARTICIPANTS

Work as usual

Threat Level: Low with no commitment of state resources

Normal

Threat Level: Moderate with a chance of developing into a state level emergency or disaster

Little commitment of state resources

HeightenedIncident has taken

place

IDEOC- limited activation

Increase communications between state , local and federal support

State Declaration

Few state agencies are providing resources

Phase I

Incident requires extended operations

IDEOC is staffed 24/7

Multiple state agencies are providing resources

Phase IIIncident requires

more than state resources and external assistance is needed

Mutual aid agreements are activated requesting assistance from other states

Multiple Federal resources are being requested

Phase III

To prevent and reduce damage, injury and loss of life for natural and manmade disasters; to coordinate response and recovery efforts between state, local, national government, the private sector and voluntary agencies.

IDEOC MISSION

Idaho Office of Emergency Management Area Field Officers (AFOs) are stationed in six regions of Idaho. AFOs live and work in the communities they serve. They are a valuable resource for local jurisdictions, as they are subject matter experts on issues of importance to the people with whom they work. AFOs represent all Office of Emergency Management program areas and are liaisons for disaster declarations and state assistance.