Emergency managers share concerns with Senator Murray
Senator Patty Murray convened a roundtable discussion Thursday, May 29, in Sultan with emergency management leaders from throughout Washington. All shared concerns about impacts of the White House’s efforts to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to defund key disaster mitigation programs.
The decisions are “senseless,” Senator Murray told the gathering, which was hosted at Fire District 5 in Sultan.
“I am incredibly grateful for all the work our emergency responders do to protect our families—whether it’s floods, tsunamis, wildfires, or mudslides—and I was glad to have the opportunity to hear from emergency management leaders today about the importance of planning and preparing for natural disasters before they strike,” Senator Murray said. “Unfortunately, we have a new administration that doesn’t understand that—and doesn’t seem to care if their policies put people in danger.”
Lucia Schmit, Snohomish County’s Director of Emergency Management, talked about how the changes are risking the community’s ability to prepare for and respond to disasters.
“All disasters begin and end at the local level. This has always been true. But one of the things that makes this nation strong is how we all come together to help during the hard times,” Schmit said. “When the slide buried the Steelhead Haven neighborhood and Highway 530 near Oso in 2014, killing 43, responders from over 120 organizations—including from other counties and states—waded into the mud. We were all able to work together because of the critical role the federal government plays in supporting a common emergency management system. To hazard that partnership courts disaster.”
Read more about the roundtable on Senator Murray’s website.
 Senator Patty Murray (right) speaks with Lucia Schmit, Snohomish County's Emergency Management director, at a May 29 roundtable in Sultan. Click image above to learn more.
Snohomish County is updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan and needs your help.
- What are the hazards in your community?
- What hazards concern you the most?
- What activities and projects should be prioritized?
Help us update the plan with your input. Please complete an online survey: https://bit.ly/snoco_hazard_survey
 Click image above to take survey.
We are grateful for everyone who took time May 15 in Arlington and May 22 in Startup to meet with us and partners to talk about wildfire preparedness and Snohomish County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan project. We will have more to share about the plan soon.
Meanwhile, we recently released a summary of survey results from more than 1,100 Snohomish County residents regarding wildfire preparedness. Some key takeaways:
- Compared to five years ago, 59% of respondents are “more concerned” or “much more concerned” about the safety of their family, home, and assets from wildfire.
- In the event of a wildfire, 34% of respondents do not have a firm evacuation plan.
- More than 72% believe wildfire mitigation projects (forest thinning and fuel reduction) benefit the forest. Nearly 20% are unsure.
Read the full survey summary: https://bit.ly/3YkXxnT
Learn more about the Community Wildfire Protection Plan project: www.bit.ly/SnoCo_CWPP
 Amy Lucas, Snohomish County Resilience and Mitigation Program Manager, discusses wildfire preparedness May 15 in Arlington.
 Emergency Management staff and partners at the May 22 meeting in Startup,
As we head into wildfire season, emergency managers and first responders in Snohomish County and other Western Washington communities are again united in encouraging people to familiarize themselves with Ready, Set, Go! evacuation guidance.
Ready, Set, Go! messages are now being used in a dozen counties on the west side of the Cascade Range. That area is home to roughly 6 million people and also some of the best outdoor recreation locations on Earth.
The actions you should take when receiving Ready, Set, Go! messages are the same regardless of where your travels may take you.
Ready-Set-Go! alerts are the same as Levels 1-2-3 often used elsewhere. The graphic below explains how the phases work, and the actions people should take.
Learn more about why Ready, Set, Go! messages are being used in Washington.
 Click image above to learn more about Ready, Set, Go!
The Snohomish Conservation District through June 30 is offering homeowners FREE assessments of wildfire risk. Specialist will advise on potential risks and offer tips for making your property more resilient to wildfires.
Schedule a home assessment: snocd.org/assess
 Click image to schedule an assessment.
Help Snohomish County make improvements to the annual Flood Guide. Your answers to this quick, three-minute survey will help the County better understand who uses the guide, and what information is needed to help our communities stay prepared, safe, and resilient. The survey closes Friday, June 6, 2025.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FloodGuide
Learn more about the flood guide: https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/947
|
|
