NEWS, INFORMATION, PROJECTS, LINKS
May 5, 2021
This month is National Wildfire Awareness Month! You can visit Ready.gov for more information on how you can prepare your home and community from wildfires.
Washington govornor, Jay Inslee, signed a proclomation making May the month of Volcano Awareness in Washington. We have 5 different volcanos in Washington. Check out Washington Emergency Management for more info!
National Dam Safety Day is on May 31st. You might be wondering why this is important. Baker Lake Dam could destroy I-5 therefore hurting our transportation on and off Whidbey and Camano Islands. For more information check out: Dam Safety.
April 6, 2021
Department of Emergency Management has been working to provide logistical support to the COVID response. DEM has worked with Island Drug and WhidbeyHealth to support local pop up clinics that work toward vaccinating our community. The department is continuing to coordinate more mass vaccination clinics.
DEM has also been ordering PPE supplies for local organizations based on the state's allocation guide. This allows our healthcare workers to work safely during this time.
June 3, 2020
CONTACT: Eric Brooks
Director, Island County Emergency Management
E.Brooks@islandcountywa.gov
(360) 632-3547
June 3, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISLAND COUNTY DRAFT HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT
In August 2019, a coalition of Island County cities, towns and special purpose districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for impacts of disasters.
Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the coalition was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area. This planning coalition has now completed that effort. The planning process was led by Island County Emergency Management with support from Bridgeview Consulting, LLC, the technical consultant. The project was funded by a planning grant from FEMA, and took approximately 10 months to complete.
During this process, citizens were asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of the region's vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences, as well as identify initiatives which could help reduce the level of impact of those hazards. Public involvement was solicited via a multi-media campaign that included: press releases; public council/board presentations and meetings; web-based information; questionnaires, and safety fairs.
That process has now culminated with the development of the Island County 2020 Draft Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is now available for review and comment at the informational website established for this planning effort at:
Island County Hazard Mitigation Plan
The public is highly encouraged to provide input on the draft plan to Eric Brooks, Director of Island County Emergency Management at the email address listed above. The comment period for review of draft plan will begin June 4, 2020 and end June 22, 2020.
April 17, 2020
CONTACT: Eric Brooks
Director, Island County Emergency Management
DEM@islandcountywa.gov
(360) 632-3547
April 17, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISLAND COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN RISK ASSESSMENT
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT
In August 2019, a coalition of Island County cities, towns and special purpose districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for impacts of disasters.
Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the coalition was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area. The planning process was led by Island County Emergency Management with support from Bridgeview Consulting, LLC, the technical consultant.
During this process, citizens were asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of the region's vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences, as well as identify initiatives which could help reduce the level of impact of those hazards. Public involvement was solicited via a multi-media campaign that included: press releases; public council/board presentations and meetings; web-based information; questionnaires, and safety fairs.
The process has now culminated with the completion of the Risk Assessment portion of the plan. Data from that process is now available for review and comment at the informational website established for this planning effort at:
Hazard Mitigation Plan 2020
The public is highly encouraged to review the hazard profiles and various posters illustrated on the website, and provide input on the risk assessment to Eric Brooks, Director of Island County Emergency Management at the email address listed above. Customarily, this information would be presented in a public forum; however, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, that is not possible. In order to remain compliant with Stafford Act Requirements, the County has elected to move forward with the process of completing the Hazard Mitigation Plan and utilizing a web-based system at this juncture to allow for additional public review and comment. Once public gathering is again allowed, the County will hold informational sessions during which the data from the plan will again be presented. The comment period for review of the risk assessment portion of the plan will run for seven days beginning April 17, 2020 and end on April 24, 2020. Thereafter, the County will complete the draft plan, at which time citizens will again be provided an opportunity for review and comment. That process is anticipated to result in a draft plan by May or June 2020.
Did You Feel That?
View maps and data for recent earthquake activity in the Pacific Northwest. The
Pacific
Northwest
Seismic
Network, or PNSN, collects and studies ground motions from about 400 seismometers in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington to monitor volcanic and tectonic activity, gives advice and information, and works to mitigate earthquake hazard.
Click here to access the website.
Remember to check your Home Emergency Kit to make sure your equipment works and supplies are adequate. Some useful resources include:
IT'S HERE!
Island County Preparedness Phone App:
Island County DEM now has a mobile phone app that will provide valuable tools for Island County Citizens to prepare for emergencies and disasters. To download the app go to:
http://readydl.com/island-county
Some of the features include:
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Share your status with your selected contacts with the push of a button.
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Receive critical emergency alerts via push notification.
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Locate Island County's emergency shelters.
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Display up-to-date evacuation route maps.
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Get the latest news and weather for the Island County area.
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Report Damage or Hazards
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Create a personalized Emergency Preparedness Plan by answering five basic questions.
Once Your Plan is generated, it is stored on your smartphone and can easily be shared with family members and friends. Your Plan comprises:
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An Emergency Supply Kit Checklist tailored to your needs.
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A Customized Emergency Food Supply Shopping List.
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An Emergency Communications Plan to notify your loved ones of your status
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Critical information to prepare your home for impending disaster.
Learn about the various emergency situations that Island County, Washington residents are most likely to face in five integrated eGuides:
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Emergency Preparedness for People with Functional Needs
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Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners
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Emergency Preparedness for Children
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Earthquakes
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Winter Storms
ON GOING PROGRAMS:
The Island County Department of Emergency Management (DEM), in the interest of providing disaster preparedness education to its residents, is currently conducting the following Public Education programs:
“Map Your Neighborhood” – This program is designed to build and strengthen disaster readiness among neighbors. Neighborhoods that are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations help to save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, and reduce property damage. In addition, working together as a team and contributing as an individual develops stronger communities and improves the quality of life in the community. You will learn the 9 steps to take immediately following a disaster, how to develop a neighborhood skills and equipment inventory, how to map your neighborhood and identify areas of concern such as gas meters, propane tanks, and water shutoffs, and how to verify which neighbors may need extra help.
- Keep up-to-date with our local training opportunities -
To find out more and/or to get involved please call 360-679-7370 or email
dem@islandcountywa.gov with any questions, comments, or suggestions. We will be glad to come out and give you a presentation to your group and/or to conduct a train the facilitator for your neighborhood. The only charge for this training is your desire and enthusiasm to become better prepared.
FEEDBACK!
Please explore these web pages and let us know by e-mail what other information you'd like to see here.
