The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department and Pierce County Emergency Management are closely monitoring the H1N1 Flu situation and will keep the public informed of potential actions, if needed. Please visit our H1N1 Flu Update site for the most up to date information and links to additional resources.
Welcome to the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management web page. Even though we've enjoyed a relatively mild winter, this is a great time for all of us to prepare ourselves and our families for all types of emergencies and disasters. Please follow the link to the right that asks 'Are You Prepared?' To get started, I recommend PC-NET. It's one of the best preparedness programs I have ever seen in my 40-year public safety career!
We would like to assist with any of your emergency preparedness efforts, so please don't hesitate to contact my office for preparedness or hazard-specific materials, presentation or general guidance, 253-798-6595.
Steven C. Bailey, Director
Our Mission
It is the mission of the Department of Emergency Management to create sustainable communities and enhance public safety by empowering all who work, govern, live in and visit Pierce County to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from all types of hazards, emergencies and disasters.
Local Disasters
Pierce County has had numerous Presidentially-declared natural disasters and is situated in one of the most disaster-prone areas of the U.S. Here is a look at the most recent:
- December 1990: Storms, High Winds and Flooding
- January 1993: 'Inauguration Day' Storm
- August 1994: Economic Disaster ( El Nino: Fishing Industry)
- November/December 1995: Major Flooding and Winds
- February 1996: Major Flooding
- December 1996/February 1997: Ice Storm and Flooding
- March 1997: Major Flooding
- February 2001: Nisqually Earthquake
- October 2002: Storm and Flood
- November/December 2006 Flood and Windstorm
- December 2007 Flood
The Department of Emergency Management is made up of five divisions:
- Emergency Management Division
- Enhanced 9-1-1
- Fire Prevention Bureau
- Radio Communications
- Washington State Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (WA-TF1)
The Emergency Management Division consists of three branches:
- Response and Homeland Security
- Mitigation, Preparedness and Recovery;
- Emergency Medical Services
The Response and Homeland Security Division is responsible for reacting to emergencies, disasters or incidents; participation in the Terrorism Early Warning Group; and the development of Homeland Security strategies and planning within Pierce County.
This division activates the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) whenever necessary to coordinate and facilitate resources to minimize the impact of emergencies and disasters on people, property, the economy and the environment.
Mitigation, Preparedness and Recovery is responsible for preparing Pierce County for disasters or emergencies as well as facilitating the transition of a community from a disaster situation to the resumption of normal activities.
Mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people, property and the environment from the effects of both natural and man-made hazards.
Preparedness is the assistance to the citizens, businesses, cities, towns and tribes in Pierce County in being prepared for a disaster or emergency. This division provides planning, training and public education to the citizens in the County and our towns, cities and tribes. All plans must be based on a written assessment and listing of the hazards to which the County is vulnerable (Chapter 118-30 Washington Administrative Code). This written assessment is known as the Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Assessment or HIVA.
Recovery is the ability to facilitate the transition of a community from a disaster situation to the resumption of normal activities.
