Emergency Planning at the Local Government Level

Contents

• General Disaster Planning References
• Emergency Planning  Topics
  • National Incident Management System (NIMS)
  • Continuity of Operations (COOP)
  • Continuity of Government (COG)
  • Personnel
  • Assessment
• Proclaiming a Disaster or Emergency
• Obtaining Services, Supplies, and Materials
• Debris Removal After a Disaster
• Other Emergency Preparedness References
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Emergency Communication Services and Facilities
  • Emergency Management for Water and Wastewater Systems
  • Local Organizations for Emergency Management
  • Local Government Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans CEMP

General Emergency Planning References

• Are You Ready?  - FEMA
• Critical Infrastructure Protection - FEMA
• Elected Officials Guide to Emergency Management ( 219 KB) - WSEMA February 2003
• Fact Sheet on Obtaining and Using Employee Medical Information as Part of Emergency Evacuation Procedures, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Guidelines for Implementation of the State of Washington Homeland Security Advisory System for Tribal, County and Local Government ( 660 KB), Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division,  March 2003  - Note the Washington EMD Web site is in transition and this document no longer appears  to to be on the EMD Web site.  Contact the Division for assistance.
• Keeping Hazards From Becoming Disasters: A Mitigation Workbook for Local Governments ( 281 KB), Washington State Emergency Management Division, February 2000 on King County Emergency Services Website
• Planning for a Sustainable Future: the Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability, FEMA Pub. No. 364, 2000
• Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework, FEMA Pub. No. 365, 2000
• Roles and Responsibilities of Chief Elected Officials (CEOs) -  AWC EM 101 Workshop, 2003
• State and Local Guide (SLG) 101: Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning, September 1996, FEMA
• Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages, American Red Cross, produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, D.C., 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.
  • National Incident Management System - Homeland Security Institute (Washington State) - Training for Washington jurisdictions
• Continuity of Operations (COOP)
  • Continuity of Operations (COOP) - Federal Emergency Management Agency Region , Introduction to State and Local EOP Planning Guidance - State and local governments should consider developing or updating contingency plans for the continuity of operations (COOP) of vital government functions. Jurisdictions must be prepared to continue their minimum essential functions throughout the spectrum of possible threats from natural disasters through acts of terrorism. COOP planning facilitates the performance of State and local government and services during an emergency that may disrupt normal operations.
    • Interim Guidance on Continuity of Operations Planning for State and Local Governments - Memo from Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and Response, FEMA, May 2004 (King County Web)
    • Planning for Continuity of Government ( 228 KB),  Best Practices Fact Sheet, National Governor's Association, November 2003
    • King County Office of Information Resource Managment  Business Continuity: Continuity of Operations (COOP)
    • Metropolitan King County Council, 2006 Continuity of Operations Plan Pandemic Influenza (Word), April 2006
    • Seattle Continuity of Government & Continuity of Operations, Appendix 4 ( 28 MB), Seattle Disaster Readiness Response Plan, Vol I
    • Walla Walla County Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) - Contact Walla Walla County
• Continuity of Government (COG)
  • NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs ( 937 KB), 2004 Edition 
  • Examples of Continuity of Government (COG) in Washington State:
    • Battle Ground Ordinance No. 06-03 ( 123 KB) - Emergency Management  -See Continuity of Government  Section, passed 3-06
    • Fircrest Ordinance No. 1347 ( 173 KB) - Conditions for Succession, passed 6-04
    • King County Delegated Line of Succession (County Executive), Administrative Policy ACO 8-1-20 (AEO), June 2005
    • Pierce County Ordinance No. 2006-29s (192 KB)
    • San Juan County Continuity of Government ( 623 KB) for San Juan County and Friday Harbor in San Juan County/Town of Friday Harbor Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Appendix F 
    • Union Gap Municipal Code Section 2.88.020 - Line of Succession
• Personnel
  • Thurston County Employee Emergency Preparedness Handbook ( 1 MB) Draft, Department Public Health and Social Services
  • Reporting to Work in Declared Emergency
    • Bellevue Personnel Manual, Section 4.4, Duty to Report to Work in the Event of a Disaster/Emergency, (1998)
    • Bellingham Personnel Policies - Policy 7.01.12, Reporting and Compensation Guidelines for City Employees During a Declared Emergency and Policy 7.01.13, Declared Emergency Assignment (1996)
    • Olympia Administrative Guideline No. 11 ( 174 KB)- Duty to Report to Work in Disaster/Emergency (2002)
    • Woodland Ordinance No. 1003 - Personnel Policies Section 12(g) - Unusual/Inclement Weather Conditions
• Assessment of Planning
  • Emergency Management Self Assessment Guide ( 37 KB) - AWC EM 101 Workshop, 2003 
  • Characteristics of Effective Emergency Mgmt. Structures, Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), 2001
  • Lessons From Katrina and Rita - What Major Disasters Can Teach Transportation Planners, (150 KB), Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 9-05 - Examines failures in hurricane Katrina and Rita emergency response and their lessons for transportation planning
  • A Region at Risk: Improving Our Readiness to Respond to Disaster ( 613 KB): An Examination of the December 14, 2006 Windstorm and its Effects on Vulnerable Populations and Nonprofit Human Services Agencies in King County, Report and Recommendations of the United Way of King County Task Force on Emergency Preparedness, Karen Reed Consulting, March 20, 2007

Proclaiming a Disaster or Emergency

• Statutes
  • Cities and towns less than 300,000 population RCW 35.33.081
  • Cities more than 300,000 population RCW 35.32A.060
  • Counties RCW 36.40.180
  • All political subdivisions RCW 38.52.070 (2)
  • 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
  • Seattle  Mayoral Prerogatives in Seattle Disaster Readiness Response Plan, Vol I ( 24 MB)
  • Seattle  City Council Prerogatives in Seattle Disaster Readiness Response Plan, Vol I ( 24 MB)
  • Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 - Civil Emergencies
  • Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 2.12 - Emergency Management
• Sample Local Government Proclamations
  • Chehalis  Resolution No. 18-90, Declaring an Emergency, November 26, 1990 (Flood)
  • Des Moines  Executive Order Proclaiming an Emergency, February 28, 2001 (Earthquake)
  • Grandview  Water Emergency Proclamation No. 2001-03 ( 221 KB), April 2001
  • King County  Local Proclamation of an Emergency, February 28, 2001 (Earthquake)
  • Mountlake Terrace  Resolution No. 491 ( 111 KB) Declaring an Emergency, December 29, 1996 (Snow Conditions)
  • Tacoma Resolution No. 33303 and Proclamation of Emergency ( 303 KB), February 1996 (Flooding and Mudslides)
• Civil Disturbances
  • Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency - City of Seattle, November 30, 1999
  • Local Proclamation of Civil Emergency Order, General Curfew - City of Seattle, December 1, 1999
  • Local Proclamation of Civil Emergency Order Number 2, Restriction on Gas Masks - City of Seattle, December 1, 1999

Obtaining Services, Supplies and Materials

• Emergencies ( 366 KB), County Bidding Book for Washington, MRSC, Report No. 56, October 2002
• Mutual Aid and Interlocal Agreement Handbook - Washington State Emergency Management Division  - Note Washington EMD Web site is in transition and this document appears to be no longer on the EMD Web site. Contact the Division for assistance.
• Emergency Relief -  Highways and Local Programs Service Center - WSDOT
• Emergencies - Exception to Bidding Laws ( 246 KB) from The Bidding Book, MRSC Report No. 52, August 2000
• National Emergency Management Network (NEMN) -  A nationwide network of local governments, nonprofit, and private sector organizations launched by ICMA and the Public Entity Risk Institute in Septembetr 2006.

Debris Removal After a Disaster

• Debris Management - FEMA
• Focus on Disposing of Storm and Flood Debris ( 38 KB), Pub. 07-02-002, 2007 - Department of Ecology
• Emergency Tree Removal Procedures - Storm Clean-up - MRSC

Other Emergency Preparedness References

• Agencies and Organizations
  • Emergency Services Division - Washington State Military Department
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
    • FEMA Region X  
  • International Association of Emergency Managers
  • Washington Emergency Management Association
• Programs and Other Misc.
  • Disaster Help - US Government site that combines the disaster resources of several federal agencies in one central location.
  • Links to Emergency Management Related Sites
  • StormReady Communities - NOAA National Weather Service

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