MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Emergency Management

Essential Records: Washington’s Blueprint for Government Continuity

March 30, 2026 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Management , Public Records Act

When disaster strikes, it is important for a local government to know how to respond as well as to resume critical operations safely and efficiently. Essential records can help in disaster response as well as recovery, but they must be identified and properly protected.

Five Actions to Strengthen Local Government Earthquake Preparedness

October 13, 2025 by Alicia Bones
Category: Emergency Management , Interlocal Cooperation

Many localities across the state participate in the annual Great Washington ShakeOut to enhance earthquake preparedness. Given the risks seismic activity poses to many communities statewide, what can local governments do year-round to better prepare their staff and the public?

HB 1531: Helping Local Governments Support Consistent Public Health Messaging

June 25, 2025 by Alicia Bones
Category: Emergency Management , New Legislation and Regulations

Effective April 21, 2025, HB 1531 clarifies that public health officers have authority to make science-based decisions during disease outbreaks, and local governments must follow those decisions.

Strengthening Urban Resilience to Wildfire at the Local Level

April 21, 2025 by Alicia Bones
Category: Emergency Management , Fire Protection

While many rural parts of Washington State have traditionally faced high risk of wildfire, urban areas, especially those near the wildland-urban interface, are also at risk. Urban areas can take proactive steps, such as adopting wildfire-related codes, to mitigate this risk.

Waiving Competitive Bidding Requirements in the Event of an Emergency

September 30, 2024 by MRSC Insight
Category: Purchasing and Contracting , Emergency Management

An emergency can allow an agency to quickly make emergency expenditures, bypassing normal, sometimes time-consuming procedural requirements related to budgeting and contracting, but local government should understand when this is appropriate and what steps to take.

Team works together to collect data and make a wildfire plan

Is Your Community Ready for a Wildfire?

June 17, 2024 by Guy Gifford
Category: Guest Author , Climate and Sustainability , Emergency Management , Fire Protection

Which neighborhoods are most at risk for wildfire in your community? What are the priority actions your local government should take and where should these be concentrated? Developing a community wildfire protection plan can help an agency answer these questions.

Wildfire under an electrical transmission line in a forested area

State-Based Efforts, Legislation Boost Local Risk Reduction, Resiliency to Wildfires

August 8, 2023 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Environmental Laws and Regulations , Emergency Management , Fire Protection , Utilities , New Legislation and Regulations

With wildfire season underway, local governments should be aware of bills passed during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session addressing wildfire events and proposed permanent rules to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke.

A crowd is gathered and sitting on the grass while a band plays in a covered area at the Seattle Center

Summer Festivals and Risk Management

April 17, 2023 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Emergency Management , Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Programs , Special Events

Summer festivals are a great way for local governments to bring people together but agencies should first undertake a variety of risk management steps to protect attendees, ensure smooth and efficient event operations, and make room for improvements for the following year.

Emergency Powers in Washington State, Post COVID-19

April 3, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: COVID-19 , Emergency Management

During the COVID-19 pandemic local governments operated under a series of emergency orders, some of which drew legal challenges. As these proclamations have ended, now is a good time to look at what happened to the challenges, and how (or if) they affected emergency powers.

Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management

February 22, 2023 by Tricia Sears
Category: Guest Author , Climate and Sustainability , Emergency Management

The state's Washington Geological Survey is offering new and updated resources to help local governments integrate the best available science into their land use planning and emergency management efforts.

Natural Hazards Planning Expertise and Resources for Local Governments

August 10, 2022 by Tricia Sears , Greg Wessel
Category: Guest Author , Climate and Sustainability , Emergency Management

Because local governments focus on safety and welfare of their communities, they are the first to be called on when a natural hazard strikes. Fortunately state agencies and nonprofits can offer assistance and expertise to better mitigate risk of hazards when regulating land use.

Fire Season Brings Renewal of Certain Worker Protections, More Action, and Funding

July 6, 2022 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Administration , Emergency Management , Fire Protection

Temporary rules are in place to protect outdoor workers from excessive heat or hazardous air quality. Meanwhile, some local governments are adopting provisions of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, and state and federal governments are boosting firefighting efforts.

Legislation Aimed at Counties Impacts Coroners, Operational Continuity

August 9, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: County Officials , Emergency Management , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog offers an overview of two recent bills that affect county officers: ESHB 1326 and EHB 1271.

Disaster Zone: Heat Waves in the Pacific Northwest

July 26, 2021 by Eric Holdeman
Category: Guest Author , Climate and Sustainability , Emergency Management

Heatwaves in the Pacific Northwest? This blog looks at a possible future where this is the norm, not the exception.

Historic Bill Focuses on Wildfire Prevention, Forest Reclamation

June 17, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Management , Fire Protection , New Legislation and Regulations , Natural Resources

This blog looks at 2SHB 1168, which will increase spending on wildland fire prevention and response activities by $125 million over the next two years and up to $328 million by 2027.

Disaster Zone: Emergency Operations Center Facilities

April 9, 2021 by Eric Holdeman
Category: Guest Author , Emergency Management

This blog reviews what an Emergency Operations Center should include to allow staff to function effectively during an emergency.

Disaster Zone: Lessons from Texas and Lebanon

March 15, 2021 by Eric Holdeman
Category: Guest Author , Emergency Management

This blog looks at the 2021 winter storm in Texas and the 2020 Beirut port explosion and asks how lessons learned from each might apply to earthquake preparedness in Washington.

Disaster Zone: COVID After-Action Reports

January 11, 2021 by Eric Holdeman
Category: Guest Author , COVID-19 , Emergency Management

This blog looks at the role of the after-action response in disaster planning and offers shared after-action insights local governments are finding in their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.