Overview
Washington state law requires all cities, towns, and counties to adopt and update comprehensive emergency management plans (CEMPs) and participate in emergency planning and disaster preparedness activities. In addition, local governments can adopt a variety of other emergency plans, some of which are required by the federal government in order to qualify for certain federal grant programs.
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs)
RCW 38.52.070 and chapter 118-30 WAC require each “political subdivision” (defined as any city, town, or county) to establish, by ordinance or resolution, a local emergency management organization or to be a member of a joint local emergency management organization in accordance with the state comprehensive emergency management plan and program.
Each local emergency management organization must develop and update a comprehensive emergency management plan (CEMP). WAC 118-30-030(9) defines the CEMP as:
[A] written basic plan with elements which address all natural and man-made emergencies and disasters to which [the] political subdivision is vulnerable. The [CEMP] specifies the purpose, organization, responsibilities and facilities of agencies and officials of the political subdivision in the mitigation of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from emergencies and disasters.
Each CEMP must be based on a hazard analysis and must include the elements listed in WAC 118-30-060. This WAC is very detailed and even provides the recommended order and organization of the plan elements and annexes.
The plan must be periodically reviewed and updated, and at least once per calendar year the operational capabilities must be tested by an emergency operations exercise or by an actual local emergency declaration.
RCW 38.52.070(4) requires jurisdictions that produce CEMPs to prepare and submit a limited English proficiency (LEP) communication plan for each limited English proficiency population that constitutes 5% of the jurisdiction's population or 1,000 residents, whichever is less. These figures are based on LEP population estimates from the state Office of Financial Management. However, as of 2020 these estimates are only available at the county level and are not available for cities, although some cities have prepared and adopted LEP communication plans using data from other sources.
In addition, RCW 38.52.091 authorizes local emergency management organizations to collaborate with other public and private agencies via a mutual aid or interlocal agreement. Special purpose districts can and should partner with cities and counties in their emergency management planning via these agreements.
For more information, see:
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help emergency managers and responders from different jurisdictions and disciplines work together more effectively to handle emergencies and disasters.
Local, state, and tribal governments are required to formally adopt NIMS in order to receive federal preparedness grants.
For more information, see:
Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs)
The federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390; also see 44 C.F.R. 201) requires state and local governments to develop all-hazard mitigation plans (HMPs) in order to be eligible for federal disaster preparedness grant funding.
The plan must be formally adopted by the jurisdiction's legislative body and must be updated at least once every five years to qualify for federal mitigation grant assistance.
Hazard mitigation is defined (see 44 C.F.R. §201.2) as "any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards." Examples from local plans include locating new public facilities outside of earthquake liquefaction zones, creating educational materials encouraging residents to prepare emergency plans and kits, restricting development in areas prone to potential landslides, or identifying potential funding sources to increase the redundancy and resilience of the water supply system, to name just a few possibilities.
The plan must include documentation of the planning process, a risk assessment with sufficient information to enable the jurisdiction to identify and prioritize mitigation actions, a mitigation strategy to reduce potential losses, and other details.
Hazard mitigation is an essential element of emergency management, along with preparedness, response, and recovery. However, it should not be confused with the comprehensive emergency management plans described above.
For more information, see:
- FEMA: Hazard Mitigation Planning – Includes useful handbooks and resources for creating and reviewing local government hazard mitigation plans, maps showing jurisdictions with approved plans, and hazard mitigation grant opportunities and guidance
Local Emergency Planning Committees
Under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), states are required to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) to help protect communities from chemical hazards. The SERC, in turn, is required to divide the state into emergency planning districts and name a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for each district. (Also see RCW 38.52.040, chapter 118-40 WAC, and chapter 70.136 RCW.)
Most LEPCs in Washington have the same jurisdictional boundaries as counties, but a few entities have established their own separate LEPCs. Tribes have similar responsibilities under EPCRA; some tribes have established their own Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs) or Tribal Emergency Planning Committees (TEPCs), while others have entered into agreements with neighboring LEPCs.
Each local or tribal committee must develop an emergency response plan for hazardous substances and review the plan at least annually. The plan may be incorporated into the broader Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) mentioned earlier, or it can be adopted as a stand-alone plan. If developed as a stand-alone plan, care must be taken not to contradict any other emergency plans and to update the LEPC plan when needed to reflect changes in other emergency plans.
For more information, see the following resources:
Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) Plans
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. Continuity of operations activities may be site-specific, jurisdiction-wide, or regional in scale, depending on the nature of the emergency.
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, including designating the order of succession for key positions. Continuity of government is one of the required elements of the CEMP listed in WAC 118-30-060.
For helpful guidance, see the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's Continuity Resource Toolkit.
City Examples
County Examples
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, Emergency Management DIvision: Map Your Neighborhood —This program guides users through simple steps to help enhance preparedness for an emergency
- Washington 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, 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
Proclaiming a Disaster or Emergency
Proclaiming a disaster or emergency can allow local governments to bypass normal procedural requirements related to expenditures and competitive bidding, among other things. (For more information on emergency procurement, see our Competitive Bidding Exemptions page.)
Emergency declarations can also potentially allow local agencies to receive state or federal emergency funding if such funding becomes available. Below are statutes and information related to emergency declarations, emergency expenditures, and other related topics.
General Legal Citations
- Ch. 38.52 RCW — Emergency Management
- RCW 38.52.070(2) — Emergency declarations for all "political subdivisions," defined in RCW 38.52.010 to mean "any county, city or town"
- RCW 39.04.280 — Competitive bidding waivers for emergency public works and emergency purchases
- RCW 39.80.060 — Emergency architecture and engineering contracts
- Ch. 42.12 RCW — Continuity of Government Act in the event of enemy attack or catastrophic incident
- WAC 246-100-070 — Enforcement of local health officer orders
City/Town Statutes - Emergency Expenditures
County Statutes
- RCW 36.40.180 — Nondebatable emergency expenditures
- RCW 36.32.270 — Competitive bidding waivers for emergency public works and emergency purchases (references RCW 39.04.280)
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
Personnel Reporting to Work in a Declared Emergency
The samples below offer a range of approaches to how local governments expect staff to work during disasters and emergencies.
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. For more information, see our Competitive Bidding Exemptions page or refer to our City Bidding Book and County Bidding Book.
Debris Removal After a Disaster
The following resources help to guide local government in debris removal after an emergency or natural disaster.
Recommended Resources
Below are selected federal, state, and nongovernmental resources to help local governments develop, update, and implement their emergency plans.
Federal Agencies/Resources
Washington Agencies/Organizations
Nongovernmental Organizations/Resources
- International Association of Emergency Managers — IAEM is the worldwide professional association of individuals employed in emergency management
- University of Washington Institute for Hazard Mitigation Planning and Research—Conducts research to enhance a community's ability to anticipate, respond to, and recover from disasters
- University of Colorado Natural Hazards Center — National clearinghouse for information on the social science and policy aspects of natural disasters
- National Fire Protection Association: Standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management (2019) — Requires free registration
- 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.
- 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
- Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA):
- Business Preperedness and Continuity Guidelines – Best practices to help governments continue their basic business operations during and immediately after disruptive events
- Disaster Preparedness – Best practices for incorporating resiliency into the capital planning process to help mitigate the effects of disasters
- Disaster Recovery Cost Documentation – Best practices to help government agencies take all necessary steps to ensure proper documentation of disaster-related costs to support maximum reimbursement from all levels of government
- Disaster Recovery for Technology – Best practices to help government agencies minimize disruptions to government operations if computers or other advanced technologies are disabled following a disaster
- Enterprise Risk Management – Best practices to help identify potential events that may affect the government and to protect and minimize risks to the government's property, services, and employees