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In an emergency, one thing is critically important to those responding: they must be able to send and receive information.

To ensure this can happen, Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management recently received a Mobile Emergency Operation Center (MEOC), and the vehicle tested it's communication equipment capabilities on Thursday from Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Operation Center in Soldotna.

"We just got it on Tuesday, so this is the first test," said Bryan Fisher, chief of operations with the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The MEOC is a 45-foot long motor-coach equipped with ALMR (Alaska Land Mobile Radio) state-wide radio, disaster response work stations, radio dispatch consoles and satellite enabled phone and Internet communication equipment.

"It's basically a high-tech command post on wheels that could be used to augment emergency response operations anywhere along the road system," Fisher said.

It could also be used to aid the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Mobile Command Vehicle, in the event that two separate command centers are needed, such as for two emergency situations in different locations on the peninsula.

The state vehicle only takes 15 minutes to set up once stationary, and Fisher said there are numerous local situations that the MEOC could assist with.

"It could be used for an urban-interface wildland fire, such as the Shanta Creek Fire that happened here earlier in the year. We could have brought it down for use by multiple agencies for that situation," Fisher said in regard to the lightning-caused fire that began in June and eventually grew to 13,221 acres.

"It could also be used for flood situations, such as the one that occurred in Seward," Fisher said in regard to a July incident when heavy rains lead to a levy breach. The resulting high water made the bridge to Lowell Point impassable and required transportation for residents living in the area to be by water taxi.

"The MEOC could have helped out with that situation, especially if the bridge had been out for a prolonged period of time," Fisher said.

Seismic activity is also quite common throughout the state, and Fisher said the MEOC could also be utilized in the event of a large disaster.

"For a major earthquake, such as if we had the '64 scenario again, or if something happened to the existing dispatch center, this could be used until they got up and running again," he said.

Fisher said the Alaska State Troopers may also utilize the vehicle as a temporary base of command for events which require them to have a large trooper presence for a brief period of time.

"Troopers could want it for Arctic Man, or other similar events," he said.

The $930,000 vehicle was funded through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Infrastructure Protection Program Buffer Zone Protection Program Grant.

The Buffer Zone Protection Program provides grant funding to build security and risk-management capabilities at the state and local level to secure critical infrastructure, which in Alaska would include the trans-Alaska pipeline, refineries, and other similar energy centers.

"The MEOC could be moved into place, then utilized by the National Guard," Fisher said.

Thursday's test in Soldotna was primarily to make certain that all equipment in the MEOC works.

"This was just a shakedown. We wanted to drive it around 100 miles, and test the high-speed satellite to make sure we can use it. We're also working on getting all the radios programmed," Fisher said.

More elaborate tests of the MEOC are planned for the future.

"Well spend most of the winter working with dispatchers at local agencies to get them comfortable with how the equipment works, and we'd like to do some more in-depth training with emergency scenarios," Fisher said.

"Our goal is not to let this thing sit in the garage," he added.

When not in use, the MEOC will be stored at Fort Richardson in Anchorage.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.