Draft 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan update ready for review
Snohomish County is requesting feedback on a draft 2025 update to the community’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. The draft plan can be read and public comments submitted through Oct. 30, 2025 at: https://bit.ly/snoco_hazard_mitigation
The Hazard Mitigation Plan focuses on options for minimizing damage and reducing harm from flooding, wildfires, severe weather, earthquakes, landslides and many other challenges, including hazardous chemical spills and cybersecurity threats.
The plan is updated every five years, a necessary step to keep the community eligible for federal disaster-assistance dollars, when available.
The plan was last revised in 2020. A team of representatives from 38 area agencies, including most cities and tribal governments, collaborated on the update, which is scheduled for potential adoption by early 2026.
As in past years, the project team ranked hazards using the best available data and disaster modeling. Earthquake remains the County’s most-significant natural hazard, but there have been changes in how other risks stack up, and a new hazard was added. See the plan for details.
 Click image to access draft plan.
We are excited to announce a SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training course presented Oct. 16, 2025, by the National Weather Service. This training is open to emergency management partners, first responders, volunteers, and community members interested in learning how to identify and report severe weather events that impact our region.
SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training
Date: October 16, 2025
Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Hybrid offering - VIRTUAL AND In-Person at Snohomish County Emergency Management, 720 80th St. SW. Building A, Everett, WA 98203.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fLnk1I5kT0eIxnztp744uw
The National Weather Service established SKYWARN to obtain critical weather information. It is a volunteer program that trains volunteers to become severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safer by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather.
Meanwhile, Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management is launching a county specific Storm Spotter Program to build a trusted network of trained local spotters.
To learn more and to ask questions, e-mail [email protected] or come to the Q/A session immediately following the Oct. 16 training.
 Click image for registration link.
Looking for ideas on how to better prepare for emergencies in Snohomish County? We again teamed up this year with The Daily Herald and partners to assemble a disaster preparedness guide filled with tips and ideas to help residents stay safe. A digital version of the guide is available on our website.
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Drop, cover and hold on Oct. 16
On Oct. 16 at 10:16 a.m., Drop, Cover, and Hold On to practice staying safe during an earthquake. If you are on the waterfronts in Everett and Edmonds, listen for a test of the state's tsunami sirens, using the wailing sound and a guidance message in English and Spanish as would happen during an actual emergency. Register for the Great Washington ShakeOut drill to learn more.
 Click image to register for ShakeOut.
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