Clarity in Crisis: The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities' response to the 7.1 earthquake, Nov. 30, 2018

On Friday, Nov. 30, at 8:29 a.m., Alaska was hit by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. The large earthquake was centered near Anchorage, but was felt hundreds of miles away. For employees based in Anchorage and surrounding areas, the earthquake lasted about one minute. During this time, offices swayed, ceiling tiles fell, glass broke and dust plummeted. Employees inside of buildings found themselves diving for cover under desks and tables. As the earthquake subsided, reports of cracked highways, massive rockslides and damaged buildings started to roll in. Alaska DOT&PF employees got to work. This presentation will trace the Nov. 30 earthquake response, from pre-event preparation, to implementation and lessons learned. Attendees will leave with strategies for a successful emergency response, including employee training, crisis communication, and best practices.