During an emergency, come to this website to find out what is happening and what to do.

Welcome to the Office of Emergency Management website! We partner with the community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. For our most popular pages and documents, look at the links below. For a schedule of classes and other preparedness activities, see our calendar.

We want to hear your comments, complaints, and any commendations so we can make this a better site.

Quick Information

Snow Storm Event Individual & Businesses Damage Assessments
If you have incurred property damage from the recent winter weather, please call 800-523-5044 to report the extent of your damages or loss. This hotline number will be open on the following dates and times:

Jan. 5 - Jan. 9, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

King County is also collecting Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) worksheets. Many businesses were inaccessible or had to close during the storm event (anytime during Dec 12-26, 2008), and may be experiencing economic loss. Please be sure to have affected businesses fill in the attached form (actual numbers are best) and fax to King County Emergency Management. Fax numbers are 206-205-4056 or 206-296-3838.

NEW: Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Program
FEMA has released Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants to the ten largest urban areas in the country. The City of Seattle Office of Emergency Management has stepped into a new leadership role to implement this Program in partnership with the larger Puget Sound regional colleagues. The Puget Sound Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Program (RCPP) is intended to enhance regional catastrophic preparedness, with the aim of strengthening the region against risks associated with catastrophic events. The Puget Sound Region includes the seven Puget Sound counties and select major cities located therein.

For more information on the program, go to http://www.seattle.gov/emergency/regional/default.htm.

Get Ready for Winter!
 
Don't wait until the forecast calls for a storm. A little time and effort before the storm season hits goes a long way in minimizing the damage and impacts of severe weather. State Farm and City of Seattle are teaming up to provide you with good information on winter weather preparedness.

Get Winter Ready:

• Upcoming SNAP Preparedness Class (PDF)
  
• Winter Storms (PDF)
  
• Wind Storms (PDF)
  
• Power Outages (PDF)
  
• Floods (PDF)
  
• Car Kits (PDF)
  
• Family Disaster Supplies Kit (PDF)
  
• Out of Area Contacts (PDF)
  

Other helpful links:

• Take Winter By Storm website.
  
• Weather Tips from the Seattle Department of Transportation
  

Personal and Family PREPAREDNESS Video in Many Languages

Video on preparing for disasters available in English, Amharic, Cambodian Cantonese, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya,and Vietnamese.

Note: You need Realplayer. Click here to download.

New Version of the Seattle Disaster Readiness and Response Plan (PDF - 50MB) Released
At least every four years local jurisdictions in the state of Washington are required by state law to update their comprehensive emergency management plan (CEMP). A similar and corresponding enabling requirement exists in the Seattle Municipal Code, which states that the Seattle Disaster Readiness and Response Plan(PDF - 50MB) will be kept current under the direction of the Mayor.

To comply, the city has just updated its plan that on May 9, 2008 was formally certified by the Washington State Emergency Management Director. This latest update, which represents change 4 to the plan, was recognized by the state as the first plan in Washington to either "meet or exceed" all of the new standards instituted by the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Framework (NRF), as well as continue to fully conform with the guidelines set out in RCW 38.52.70 and WAC 118-30-060.

While the former version was judged to be the fifth best plan in the country by the Department of Homeland Security in their National Plan Review, this iteration is intended to surpass that standard and to further the Mayor's mantra of making Seattle the most prepared city in the country.

***UPDATE*** Volume Two of the plan (PDF - 22MB) is now on line as well. This document contains more detail on individual elements. It is very long, but we have created bookmarks to help you navigate.

Learn More About Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
Buildings of this type are the most likely to fail in earthquakes. The City of Seattle has recently completed a study of these buildings. The City will be convening both a technical and a policy committee to explore retrofit standards and requirement options.

Seattle Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis (pdf 10 MB)
Learn what hazards pose the most risk for Seattle.

Seattle All-Hazards Mitigation Plan (pdf 9 MB)
Explains what Seattle is doing to reduce hazard exposure risks.

Is Your Home Protected (pdf)
Reduce non-structural hazards in your home

Trained Home Earthquake Retrofit Contractors
This is a list of contractors trained through a certification program to do home earthquake retrofits

December 2006 Storm Final After Action Report (PDF)
Examines what worked well and provides lessons learned - information key to improving Seattle's emergency response capabilities.

Classes

Join us for our Fall emergency skills training classes. See the flyer for the schedule. For a complete listing see our Calendar.

SNAP Community Organizing Meetings
Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare is the newest preparedness program being offered by the city. The programs are offered throughout the city to help you, your family and your neighborhoods become better prepared for the next disaster. Download our 2008 flyer to get the complete schedule. For more information about the SNAP program turn to the SNAP section of this website, call (206) 233-7123 or email SNAP@seattle.gov.

Preparing for an Emergency

Car Kits (PDF)
Shows you what supplies to stock in your vehicle.

Emergency Management News

Donations encouraged, and cash works best
Most voluntary and faith-based organizations are asking for financial donations that are unrestricted, which allows them to purchase supplies in the exact quantities needed to fulfill their mission in assisting the victims. Click here to learn more.

Lessons learned from December 2006 windstorm
will help improve Seattle's emergency response
Mayor Greg Nickels has released a detailed review of the city's response to the historic December 2006 windstorm and pledged to implement all of the report's key recommendations to help prepare even more effectively for future emergencies.

The 55-page December Storm After Action Report examines what worked well and provides lessons learned - information key to improving Seattle's emergency response capabilities. The report, which will be sent to the City Council, was developed by the departments and individuals who actually worked during and after the storm.
Posted: Febrary 28, 2007