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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The U.S Department of Homeland Security reviewed the states' emergency plans, and Utah's was among those considered good, a state official said.
Brian Garrett, director of the state Office of Emergency Services, said, "We always have more work to do, but I feel good about where we are and incredibly good about the steps we are taking to be better all around."
The federal department rated facets of each state's emergency plans as sufficient, partially sufficient or not sufficient.
Utah did not receive any ratings of not sufficient, Garrett said. "And our 'get-well' plan (for areas that were only partially sufficient) ... was rated as sufficient."
Garrett said a problem area in the Homeland Security evaluation was Utah's response to the request that all states have a plan on how to evacuate the entire state if necessary.
"We turned around and said, `Why would we?"' Garrett said.
He said Utah anticipates no threats that would need such widespread evacuations. Unlike disasters like hurricanes that may be forecast, where evacuations are helpful, Utah's biggest threats come from impossible-to-forecast events like earthquakes.
"But we're looking at that (having evacuation procedures) as part of our plans to address. A scenario to evacuate Salt Lake County is pretty far-reaching; however, we feel that we are perfectly able to do it with the plans we have in place, but we are going to go back and work with local officials to refine those plans," Garrett said.
Homeland Security said it will release its nationwide findings later this month.
Utah has been working to have its plans accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program, and Garrett hopes Utah will win conditional accreditation later this month. Only eight states are currently accredited.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
