Emergency Management Division

During state emergencies, EMD manages the State Emergency Operations Center located on Camp Murray, near Tacoma, and coordinates the response to ensure help is provided to those who need it quickly and effectively. The EOC is designated as the central location for information gathering, disaster analysis, and response coordination. Other state agencies with emergency roles may come to the EOC to help coordinate the state response. Federal government agencies, along with state and local volunteer organizations, also may provide representatives. At the EOC, information gathered is used by executives to make decisions concerning emergency actions and to identify and prioritize the use of state resources needed to respond to the emergency. The EOC may issue emergency warnings or disseminate critical information and instructions to government personnel and the public who may need to take emergency protective actions.

Three phones sit on a table.

VISION

A disaster ready and resilient Washington State.

MISSION

The Washington Emergency Management Division leads and coordinates mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery in Washington State to minimize the impact of disasters and emergencies on the people, property, environment and economy.

VALUES

Public Service: We embrace a spirit of public service  we serve the people of Washington State in a responsive, transparent and effective manner. We are faithful stewards of the public trust.
Respect: We treat everyone with courtesy, fairness, dignity and compassion. We value the contributions of others and recognize the importance of diversity.
Integrity: We act transparently and honestly. We are responsible for our actions and hold ourselves accountable to the highest  personal, professional and ethical standards.
Dedication: We wholeheartedly invest ourselves and go above and beyond in accomplishing our mission. We support, encourage, care for one another and celebrate our accomplishments.
Excellence: We strive for excellence  we set high standards and expectations, seek continuous improvement in our organization and achieve superior results. We are committed to providing leadership, fostering innovation and delivering the highest quality of service to our customers and stakeholders.  

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