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Situation Reports

DES staffers deal in what they term "SITREPs" - Situation Reports. These terse messages from disaster agencies are intended to provide the SECC with updates at frequent intervals but they are often delayed. The procedure described below is relatively simple in concept but it serves DES well and keeps the SEC and other ARES members better informed about the situation; relating to the emergency.

SITREP Procedures

First the SEC notifies specific DECs that SITREPs are expected every so-many hours, and lists the types of data needed. The interval may vary from hourly to daily. DECs not in the impact area might not be asked for SITREPs at regular intervals, at least at first. The DECs notify their ECs of the request with specific instructions as to types of data needed.

EC's SITREP duties

ARES operators assigned to the Borough EOC and other Served Agency locations are usually among the first activated. The EC will instruct each operator staffing those points to collect certain information and report it to the EC by radiogram on the County Net by a specific deadline. When the EC has collected the necessary data, he/she reports it to the DEC by the fastest means available.

DEC's SITREP duties

Each Borough SITREP and each District SITREP must carry place, date and time so that no confusion arises as to when and where the report originated. Originating operators must sign their SITREP messages to the DEC. The DEC SITREP must retain citations of sources for each reported fact from the Borough SITREPs. Originating operators should retain copies of all SITREPS for a reasonable period in case they are needed for reference later. One year is a desirable minimum.

The DEC combines this information from all Boroughs, and checks with the originating operators to verify anything that looks doubtful or incomplete before sending the composite District SITREP to the SEC and SM by the agreed-upon deadline. Speed - but not haste - is very desirable. SITREPs should not be held up for additional information. DECs should send what is available at deadline. Supplemental data can be sent along when it is available.

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Last modified: Sun Feb 10 15:58:58 AKST 2002