Glen Canyon provides June data on releases<br>

Emergency workers began evacuating Trailer Village on a precautionary basis on the afternoon of the fire, but that was quickly downgraded to an advisory evacuation. Still a range of issues quickly came to light.

“If you’re doing the whole village, then the shuttle bus becomes part of the system to get people back to their cars,” Phillips said. “Here we were closing down part of the village that was still serviced by shuttle bus. At CVIP (Canyon View Information Plaza) for example, we were getting it sealed off but we still had shuttle bus operations to run and we still had concerns about the stop near Trailer Village.”

The direction of the fire created another unplanned situation.

“More than likely (in a natural fire situation) the southwest area would have to be evacuated first,” he said. “This situation was exactly the opposite. It also involved a lot of people who weren’t permanent residents.”

Because of that, and because the evacuation was partial, it prevented the use of the fire siren, which is sounded for a five-minute durations to indicate the need to evacuate.

“Residents might have an understanding that that siren means to leave the village. Visitors will not,” said Phillips.

An actual evacuation hasn’t happened in at least 20 years, since Phillips has been on the job, and the park has never been closed for an emergency. The events on May 5 were more effective than a drill in helping officials see where the evacuation plan needed to be modified.

“It mostly has to do with communication,” he said. “We have to make sure at all times that there’s 100 percent communication, with all resources in the field.”

To get the word out initially, Phillips said law enforcement patrols would go through neighborhoods announcing an evacuation on a public address system. This method would be faster than door-to-door notification and would get the message to every one. The park’s phone system doesn’t support reverse-911 protocols that could be used to notify everyone at once and even then, it still wouldn’t reach residents who use only a cell phone.

“If their neighborhood is being evacuated, law enforcement patrols will have PA systems announcing it,” Phillips said.

According to an evacuation site bulletin revised this month, the signal for all residents to evacuate is the sounding of the fire siren for five minutes or longer. This will be accompanied by patrols in the most immediately threatened areas, Phillips said.

“In conjunction with the siren they will probably hear instructions on what to do with their personal vehicles, items to take and how they will be directed out of the park,” he said.

Radio announcements will also be made on KAFF 930 AM and 92.9 FM, informing residents of evacuation routes and collection centers.

Routes and collection centers are not pre-established. Residents will be directed out of the park by signs and people controlling traffic, as was the case to manage road closures during the Long Jim fire. Phillips said people should evacuate with their cars if possible.

Collection centers will be established for South Rim residents in Williams and/or Flagstaff to provide registration and assistance. Possible Inner Canyon collection centers include Indian Garden and Phantom Ranch while those for North Rim residents include Jacob Lake, Cliff Dweller’s Lodges and the Fredonia school.

“When we first started talking about evacuation, we thought we would move people to Tusayan,” he said. “But whatever is threatening the park is likely going to threaten Tusayan as well. It may not be a good spot to be.”

Instead of going to collection centers, Phillips said people can go and stay with relatives and friends. They should, however, register with a collection center so they are accounted for and known to have evacuated safely.

Safety zones have also been identified for people who cannot safely evacuate the park. On the South Rim, this is Canyon Village Marketplace parking lot, Watchtower parking area at Desert View, the ballfield on the North Rim, and Indian Garden or Phantom Ranch in the Inner Canyon.

The site bulletin also advises families to establish evacuation plans for when they are separated with a relative or friend as an emergency contact. They’re also advised to include pets in their evacuation planning.

Disabled or special-needs residents should also plan ahead with neighbors, relatives or friends. They can register with the E911 Location Identifier Database at Grand Canyon National Park Communications Center by calling 638-7805.

If help is not readily available when an evacuation is ordered, call the Communications Center emergency line at 638-2477, or dial 911.

Once you have evacuated, you may not return home until authorized to do so by the local officials.

Current incident information will be available through the local AM and FM radio stations, the officials at the Evacuation Collection Centers, or by calling 638-7888.