Emergency Management in Washington State:

Our Capabilities, Our Challenges

When It Comes to Emergencies…

We know what first responders do…..but what about Emergency Managers?

Today’s Objectives

• Who Are We?• What Do We Do?• Washington’s Recent Disaster History &

Hazards?• How You Can Help?

Where Are Emergency Managers? Counties, Cities, Special Districts & Tribal

Nations

Ports, Utilities, Transportation & Public/Private-Sector Critical Infrastructure Owners

K-12 & Higher Ed throughout Washington

in Camp Murray, WA

Region 10 office in Bothell & Lynnwood

What Do Emergency Managers Do?

During Emergencies?Collaborate, Coordinate & Communicate• Collaborate & Coordinate

– Support First Responders with Resources– Operate Emergency Operations Centers – Develop Common Operating Picture– Encourage & Connect Community-Based Recovery Efforts

• Communicate– Provide Alert, Warning & Community Notification– Manage Public Information Across Multiple Incidents– Advise & Inform Policy/Elected Officials

What Do Emergency Managers Do?

Outside of Emergencies?

Build Partnerships Throughout our Communities

Ensure Readiness of Emergency Operations CentersProvide Public Education on Hazards & PreparednessFacilitate & Develop Mitigation, Response & Recovery PlansExercise & Drill PlansTrain Emergency Responders & Volunteers

Who Does What?

Local Emergency Managers

• Directly support incident with resources

• Alert, Warning & Public Information

• Address Local Policy issues & Proclaim Local State of Emergency

• Coordinate with Community Organizations, Non-Profits & Businesses

•Coordinate state assets & overhead teams

•Mutual aid coordination across states

•Conduct damage assessment

•Declaration of Emergency to the President

•Coordinate federal assets

•Provide overhead teams & specialized help

•Manage Assistance & Recovery Programs

Washington’s Wildfires

• 2012 = Set New Records for Devastation• U.S. Wildfires: Burn Area Expected To Double

By 2050 according to Climatologists Study in Sept 2012

Washington’s “Common” Disasters

• Flooding, Landslides, High Winds, Snow/Ice • Average = 1x year since 1950• Severe Storms Declared in 2012 (2x), 2011,

2009 (2x), 2007 (2x), 2006 (2x), 2003

Washington’s Catastrophic Future?Earthquake & Tsunami Threat ~ Cascadia Subduction

Zone

Washington Challenges

• Emergency Management Lacks Sustainable Funding Sources.

• Many Emergency Management Programs are staffed part-time or in name only.

• We need a consistent Emergency Management System across the state.

• Without support, local jurisdictions will lose emergency managers & direct connectivity to their communities.

• Difficult to sustain programs which are less “visible” in emergencies to the general public.

How Can You Help?• Be a Role Model of

Personal Preparedness

• Encourage Business Continuity for long-term economic health of our state

• Support efforts to seek sustainable funding for local emergency management

• Make Washington State Disaster Ready & Resilient.

Washington State Emergency Management Association (WSEMA)

Website: www.wsema.com Email: info@wsema.com

Jim Hall, WSEMA President (Yakima)Cheryl Bledsoe, Legislative Chair (Vancouver)