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 and CEMP.

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

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (2004) - A comprehensive source on individual, family and community preparedness
• Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans: Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 (2010)
• Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework
• Emergency Management for Senior Officials: Checklist

Citizen Preparedness

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
  • Citizen Corps - Citizen Preparedness Research
  • Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
• Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division - Map Your Neighborhood
• Washington State Department of Public Health - Emergency Preparedness - General Information
• Bothell Emergency Preparedness - Website with resources to help citizens prepare, including information and coloring kits for children
• Jefferson County How Can I Prepare for an Emergency? - Website includes specific resources for tsunamis, earthquakes, wildfires, power outages, and severe weather

Other Resources

• Washinton State Emergency Management Association: Elected Officials' Guide to Emergency Management (2003)
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Fact Sheet on Obtaining and Using Employee Medical Information as Part of Emergency Evacuation Procedures - Consult ADA updates for changes in law.
• U.S. Department of Labor: How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations (2001)
• Infrustructure Security Partnership (TISP): Regional Disaster Resilience: A Guide for Developing an Action Plan (2011) - The RDR 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. Typical users include local officials, emergency management and homeland security directors; energy, transportation management, and environmental protection officials; utility and business owners and operators interested in improving security outside their businesses, and faith-based organizations and non-profits serving people in need or having other community health and safety missions.
• American Red Cross: Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messaging (2004)

Emergency Planning Topics

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

• The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (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 needed to formally adopt the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by September 30, 2005 through an ordinance, resolution, or proclamation.

Continuity of Operations (COOP)

• Federal Emergency Management Agency Region Continuity of Operations
• King County Continuity of Operations Plan (2013)
• Walla Walla County Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) (2010)

Continuity of Government (COG)

• NFPA 1600: Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, 2013 edition, National Fire Protection Association - Requires registration for free access to publication
• Continuity of Government (COG) in Washington State:
  • Battle Ground Municipal Code Sec. 2.74.050 - Continuity of Government
  • Fircrest Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 - Succession of Authority
  • King County Delegation of Authority During Absence of Executive and Line of Succession (County Executive), Administrative Policy ACO 8-1-24 (AEO), 07/22/2009
  • Pierce County Code Secs. 2.118.042 and 2.118.045 - Succession of Authority and Continuity of County Government
  • Union Gap Municipal Code Sec. 2.88.020 - Line of Succession

Personnel - Reporting to Work in Declared Emergency

• Anacortes - Inclement Weather
• Mason County - Unusual Weather Conditions/Extreme Circumstances
• Olympia - Emergency/Disaster Reporting to Work, 10/2013
• Renton - Inclement Weather Natural Disasters, 2005
• Seattle - Compensation Conditions for Inclement Weather and Disaster Response
• Woodland
  • Exceptional Compensation: Declared Disaster Periods, 2010
  • Other Leave - Unusual/Inclement Weather Conditions, 2010

Assessment of Planning

• Washington State Coast Resilience Assessment Final Report, Washington State University William D. Ruckelshaus Center (2017) - Report commissioned by local officials in Grays Harbor County, as well as state Department of Ecology and a U.S. representative's office, examining long-term resilience to growing threats such as erosion, flooding, landslides, storms, rising sea levels, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
• Emergency Management Self-Assessment Guide, Association of Washington Cities EM 101 Workshop, 2003
• Lessons From Katrina and Rita - What Major Disasters Can Teach Transportation Planners, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 04/2006 - Examines failures in hurricane Katrina and Rita emergency response and their lessons for transportation planning

Proclaiming a Disaster or Emergency

Statutes

• RCW 35.33.081 - Cities and towns less than 300,000 population
• RCW 35.32A.060 - Cities more than 300,000 population
• RCW 36.40.180 - Counties
• RCW 38.52.070 (2) - All political subdivisions
• Other
  • Ch. 42.14 RCW - Continuity of Government - Provisions for conducting business in the event of an enemy attack
  • WAC 246-100-070 - Enforcement of Local Health Officer Orders

Policies and Ordinance Provisions

• Poulsbo Municipal Code Ch. 2.60 - Emergency Proclamations
• San Juan County Code Sec. 2.48.100 - Disaster Declarations
• Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 - Civil Emergencies
• Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 2.12 - Emergency Management

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) - Declaring emergency due to severe winds, waves, high tides, and rainfall, and 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)
• 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

• Des Moines Executive Order Proclaiming an Emergency (2001) - City manager's declaration of emergency following the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, authorizing department directors to take necessary actions.

Obtaining Services, Supplies and Materials

• Emergencies in The County Bidding Book for Washington, Municipal Research and Services Center Report No. 56, Revised, 2014
• Emergencies in The Bidding Book for Washington Cities and Towns, Municipal Research and Services Center Report No. 52, Revised, 2013
• Mutual Aid and Interlocal Agreement Handbook, Washington State Emergency Management Division, 2009
• Emergency Relief Program, Washington State Department of Transportation, Highways and Local Programs

Debris Removal After a Disaster

• Debris Management Guide, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 07/2007
• Focus on Disposing of Storm and Flood Debris, Pub. 07-02-002, Washington State Department of Ecology, 01/2007
• Emergency Tree Removal Procedures - Storm Cleanup, MRSC

Agencies and Organizations

Washington State Agencies and Organizations

• Washington State Military Department Emergency Management Division
• Washington State Emergency Management Association

Federal Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• FEMA Region X
• Federal Highway Administration Emergency Transportation Operations
• DisasterAssistance.gov - U.S. Government site that combines the disaster resources of several federal agencies in one central location.
• StormReady, NOAA National Weather Service

National Organizations

• The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) - A non-profit partnership to be a national asset facilitating dialogue on domestic infrastructure security and offering sources of technical support and sources for comment on public policy, related to the security of the nation's built environment.
• International Association of Emergency Managers