AlaskaAlaska emergency plans use shared color-coded evacuation warnings
Alaska’s law sets three warning levels for evacuation maps and public messages, and local plans with evacuation plans must use those same levels.
What it does
State emergency plans use green for a possible emergency, yellow when evacuation is imminent, and red when people should leave immediately because of a dangerous hazard.
Local governments must use the same three warnings in any evacuation plan included in their written local or shared disaster plan.
Emergency plans for areas with facilities covered by federal hazardous-substance rules use the same warnings in their evacuation plans.
Argument forPeople could use the shared colors and words to recognize when to stay alert, prepare to leave, or evacuate immediately.
Argument againstPeople could mistake the first warning, which says an emergency may exist, for a direction to evacuate right away.
More detail
State emergency plans use three color-coded warnings in evacuation maps and public messages. Green “Level 1 Ready” means an emergency may exist; yellow “Level 2 Set” means evacuation is imminent; red “Level 3 Go” means a dangerous hazard exists and people should leave immediately. This law took effect August 18, 2026.
Local disaster plans that include evacuation plans use the three warnings. The warning requirement applies if a local or shared plan includes an evacuation plan. Each political subdivision must prepare, maintain, and distribute a written disaster plan to appropriate officials.
Emergency plans prepared under AS 26.23.073 use the three warnings in their evacuation plans. The plans also address release response, public notification, and emergency equipment in the community and at covered facilities. These plans cover emergency planning districts and facilities subject to federal hazardous-substance rules. This law took effect August 18, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 4(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 8/18/26Latest
- Jun 4(S) Signed into law 5/20 CHAPTER 4 SLA 26Became Law
- May 8(S) 8:20 A.M. 5/8/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- May 6(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y39 N1 #2424. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6(H) VERSION: CSSB 192(CRA)
- May 6(H) RETURN TO (S), TRANSMIT TO GOVERNOR NEXT
- May 6(H) PASSED Y39 N1Major
- May 6(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 192(CRA)Minor
- May 4(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/6 CALENDARMinor
- May 4(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 4(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/4/2026
- May 1(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): ELAM
- Apr 30(H) Moved CSSB 192(CRA) Out of Committee
- Apr 30(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
- Apr 30(H) FN1: ZERO(MVA)
- Apr 30(H) DP: HOLLAND, PRAX, G.NELSON, ST. CLAIR, HALL, HIMSCHOOT, MEARS
- Apr 30(H) CRA RPT 7DP
- Apr 29(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): HOLLAND
- Apr 28(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 9:00 am --
- Apr 28(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
- Apr 27(H) CRA
- Apr 27(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Apr 24(S) VERSION: CSSB 192(CRA)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y19 N- E1 #2343. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- Apr 24(S) PASSED Y19 N- E1Passed Senate
- Apr 24(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 192(CRA)Minor
- Apr 22(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/24 CALMinor
- Apr 22(S) CRA CS ADOPTED UC
- Apr 22(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Apr 22(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2026
- Apr 20(S) FN1: ZERO(MVA)
- Apr 20(S) AM: KAWASAKI
- Apr 20(S) NR: DUNBAR
- Apr 20(S) DP: GIESSEL, MYERS, CLAMAN
- Apr 20(S) RES RPT CS(CRA) 3DP 1NR 1AM
- Apr 17(S) Moved CSSB 192(CRA) Out of Committee
- Apr 17(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Apr 10(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 10(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Feb 11(S) FN1: ZERO(MVA)
- Feb 11(S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON, YUNDT
- Feb 11(S) NR: MERRICK, DUNBAR
- Feb 11(S) CRA RPT CS 2NR 2DP SAME TITLE
- Feb 10(S) Moved CSSB 192(CRA) Out of Committee
- Feb 10(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- 2025
- May 20(S) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- MEETING CANCELED --
- May 20(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- May 15(S) Minutes (SCRA)
- May 15(S) Heard & Held
- May 15(S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- May 12(S) CRA, RES
- May 12(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
Emergency ManagementPublic Safety