This page provides information and resources for Washington local governments on the emergency management policies and procedures that are mandated or recommended by federal and state law, including examples of local plans and policies.
It is part a series of MRSC's series on Emergency Management and Disaster Planning.
Local Emergency Management Plans
All cities, towns, and counties in Washington State are required to establish an emergency management organization and develop an up-to-date comprehensive emergency management plan (CEMP), or to participate in a joint emergency management organization.
For more information, including examples of CEMPs and emergency management interlocal agreements, see our page on Local Emergency Management Organizations and CEMPs.
Emergency Planning Resources
The materials below can help a local government agency and staff plan emergency response efforts.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Department of Labor: How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations (2001)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Fact Sheet on Obtaining and Using Employee Medical Information as Part of Emergency Evacuation Procedures (2005) – Addresses the appropriate use of disability related information when developing a comprehensive emergency evacuation plan
ADA.gov: Emergency Preparedness & Response – Offers resources to help state and local governments ensure that their emergency preparedness, response, and management programs are accessible to people with disabilities
Infrastructure Security Partnership: Regional Disaster Resilience: A Guide for Developing an Action Plan (2011) – The guide is designed for use by any practitioner or expert who wishes to improve the capabilities of their organization or community to withstand major incidents or disasters
Washington State Emergency Management Association: Elected Officials' Guide to Emergency Management (2003)
Citizen Preparedness
These resources, which are produced or overseen at various levels of governments, are designed to be used by citizens to help them become more prepared in the event of an emergency.
Sample Federal and State Guides and Resources
- FEMA
- Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (2004) — This guide was designed to help citizens learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards.
- Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) — Educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations
- Citizen Corps — A national network of local government, business, and community leaders who work collectively to prepare their communities for disaster and to make them more resilient.
- Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, Map Your Neighborhood —This program guides users through simple steps to help enhance preparedness for an emergency
- Washington State Department of Public Health, Emergency Preparedness — This webpage offers links to resources for citizens as well as public health officials
- Serve Washington, Get involved in Citizen Corps programs — This webpage, hosted by the state-based chapter of Citizen Corps offers connects interested volunteers to Washington state-based emergency prep programs like MyPI (for teen volunteers) CERTs, Medical Reserve Corps, Fire Corps and Neighborhood Watch programs
Sample City and County Guides and Resources
Emergency Planning Topics
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was developed by FEMA to provide a system that would help emergency managers and responders from different jurisdictions and disciplines work together more effectively to handle emergencies and disasters. All Washington cities and counties are required to formally adopt the National Incident Management System (NIMS) through an ordinance, resolution, or proclamation.
Continuity of Operations (COOP)
Continuity of Operations (COOP) is a federal government initiative, required by U.S. Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40), to ensure that agencies at all levels of government can continue performance of essential functions under a broad range of circumstances.
Sample COO Plans
Continuity of Government (COG)
Continuity of Government (COG) is the principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of a catastrophic event.
Sample City COG Documents
The documents below generally appoint a line of succession to delegate authority to additional staffmembers in the event a city executive is unable to perform the job.
Sample County COG Documents
The documents below address a line of succession for a county administrative branch or the elective branch, or both.
Personnel - Reporting to Work in Declared Emergency
The samples below offer a range of approaches to how local governments expect staff to work during disasters and emergencies.
Assessment of Planning
The resources below can help in assessing emergency plans.
- Association of Washington Cities, Emergency Management Self-Assessment Guide (2003) — This informal quiz offers local government staff and elected officials a personal assessment of the community's emergency management risk
- Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Lessons From Katrina and Rita - What Major Disasters Can Teach Transportation Planners (2006) — This report examines failures in municipal emergency response that occurred during hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the lessons for transportation planning
- William D. Ruckelshaus Center, Washington State Coast Resilience Assessment Final Report (2017) — Commissioned by local officials in Grays Harbor County, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and a U.S. representative's office, this report examines long-term resilience to growing threats such as erosion, flooding, landslides, storms, rising sea levels, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
Proclaiming a Disaster or Emergency
Statutes
Policies and Ordinance Provisions
These samples outline emergency/disaster management policies and plans
Local Government Proclamations
Below are a few examples of local emergency or disaster declarations in recent years.
Snow, Ice, Winter Storms
- Lacey Resolution No. 981 (2012) — Emergency due to snow and ice; resolution self-terminates after 30 days unless extended or terminated earlier by council
- Port Angeles Resolution No. 1-06 (2006) — Emergency due to severe winds, waves, high tides, and rainfall; authorizes mayor and city manager to request state or federal assistance
- Whatcom County Proclamation of Emergency (2017) — County executive's declaration of emergency due to winter storms and heavy snow, requesting state assistance
- Wilbur Resolution No. 355 (2009) — Emergency due to extreme snow and possibility of flooding
- Woodland Resolution No. 569 (2009) — Council’s declaration of emergency due to heavy snowfall, heavy rains, and warming temperatures. Also includes mayor’s declaration of civil emergency and delegation of authority to incident management team.
Drought, Wildfires
- Grandview Water Emergency Proclamation No. 2001-03 (2001) — Mayor’s declaration of a water shortage emergency, imposing mandatory water use restrictions.
- Kittitas County Resolution No. 2017-143 (2017) — Declares emergency due to a fire threatening structures, activates emergency operation center, and requires overtime and other records to be submitted to county auditor at conclusion of emergency
- Port Townsend Ordinance No. 3131 (2015) — Declares emergency due to drought, possible water shortages, and fire hazard. Authorizes city manager to implement drought response plan, water conservation measures, and fire hazard abatement
Earthquake
Obtaining Services, Supplies and Materials
Obtaining services, supplies, and materials can be challenging for many local governments during and in the aftermath of a disaster. The following resources below can help
- Washington Intrastate Mutual Aid System — Offered through the Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division, WAMAS allows member jurisdictions throughout the state to efficiently and effectively share resources during disasters or emergencies, as well as anticipated drills or exercises.
- Emergency Relief Program — Offered through the Washington State Department of Transportation, this program allow public works agencies in the state to coordinate resources with other signatory agencies and maximize funding reimbursement during disasters/emergencies
- Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WAWARN) — WAWARN is a free, member-based organization that allows water and wastewater systems to receive rapid mutual aid and assistance from other members during an emergency.
Waiver of Competitive Bidding Requirements
In the event of an emergency, competitive bidding requirements for purchases and for public works projects can be waived. MRSC addresses how emergencies impact county competitive bidding requirements in The County Bidding Book for Washington (rev. 2017) and how emergencies impact city/town competitive bidding requirements in The Bidding Book for Washington Cities and Towns (rev. 2017).
Debris Removal After a Disaster
The following resources help to guide local government in debris removal after an emergency or natural disaster.
Emergency Planning Agencies and Organizations
Federal Agencies/Resources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency — FEMA is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, whose primary purpose is to coordinate the response to a disaster that has occurred in the US and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. Washington is part of FEMA Region X.
- DisasterAssistance.gov — Overseen by FEMA this website combines the disaster resources of several federal agencies in a centralized, online location
- Emergency Transportation Operations — Offered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), this program provides tools, guidance, capacity building and good practices that aid local and state DOTs and their partners in their efforts to improve transportation network efficiency and public/responder safety when an emergency either interrupts or overwhelms transportation operations.
- StormReady — Offered through NOAA’s National Weather Service, StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs
Washington State Agencies/Organizations
- Washington Military Department — The Emergency Management Division of the WDP helps to minimize the impact of emergencies and disasters on people, property, environment, and the economy of Washington State by providing trained and ready forces for state and federal missions
- Washington State Emergency Management Association — WSEMA is the statewide professional association of local, county, state, and federal emergency-management professionals working in the private and public sector
Nongovernmental Organizations/Resources