Seattle — Emergencies, serious incidents, and major events are disruptive and often unpredictable, and our city needs an updated approach to address today’s threats.
Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced and signed an Executive Order today to enhance the City of Seattle’s emergency management systems, reduce vulnerabilities, and foster resilient communities capable of withstanding and recovering from future disasters. This order combines lessons learned from a 2025 outside assessment, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Bite of Seattle shooting to address gaps and build the coordination needed to make sure the City and our residents are ready when something goes wrong. The order was signed at a two-day emergency management symposium for City staff.
“One of our most important responsibilities as a City is to prepare and plan for emergencies — both natural disasters and serious incidents — but the old way of doing things is no longer enough. We must do more to meet this moment,” said Mayor Wilson. “This executive order will strengthen the City’s emergency preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities, foster more resilient communities, and help to effectively manage emergencies and disasters. It represents the steps we can take as the City to better coordinate internally, with partners, and with residents.”
The order has three sections:
- Creating a shared vision: build a clear, coordinated, and Citywide approach to emergency management that meets emerging threats and political realities.
- Directing City actions: develop shared standards and resources to ensure emergency management teams are fully trained, appropriately staffed, and have sufficient opportunities for drills and exercises, including emergency alerts.
- Community preparedness: strengthen partnerships with neighborhood and business groups as well as schools and other governments to ensure that communities are prepared for major disasters and connected with resources.
Shared Vision
The Mayor’s Office takes an active role in coordinating the city’s emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts, ensuring all departments are engaged and communities stay informed. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will create a strategic plan that addresses future growth, emerging threats, and the successful and sustainable implementation of Citywide response and preparedness plans. By the end of 2027, every City department will play a defined role in strengthening Seattle’s emergency readiness. This includes understanding their responsibilities, maintaining plans to sustain essential services during a crisis, and participating in citywide recovery and hazard mitigation efforts.
“Emergency management only works when it’s a team effort,” said Office of Emergency Management Director Curry Mayer. “This executive order directs every City department to partner with OEM, not just in name, but in practice, through shared training, coordinated exercises, and accountability for continuity of operations, continuity of government, and hazard mitigation. Collaboration ensures that when an emergency happens, whether it’s an earthquake, a flood, or something we haven’t yet imagined, we work together. Because when emergencies happen, people don’t care which department is doing what. They care about how the City shows up.”
We will strengthen the review process after emergencies and major events, using lessons learned to continuously improve preparedness. Special attention will be given to heightened risks in Seattle, such as vulnerable infrastructure and the potential for large-scale emergency deployments, ensuring the City’s strategies stay current and effective.
City Actions
The City is strengthening how it prepares employees and departments to respond to emergencies. Under this order, OEM will lead an interdepartmental team (IDT) including police, fire, transportation, utilities, and human resources to establish citywide training requirements and ensure personnel are fully prepared for their roles during incidents.
The IDT will develop a plan for mandatory preparedness training for new employees, along with annual refreshers, so City staff know how to protect their homes and understand their responsibilities in maintaining critical services during a crisis. Personnel with specialized roles will receive advanced certification in alignment with industry standards. The City will also conduct regular exercises to strengthen readiness and coordination.
“Seattle Fire personnel respond to fires, medical emergencies and rescues that occur within our city on a daily basis, but we know during significant and widespread emergencies, it takes a multi-departmental team,” said Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. “Coordinating together with other City departments and the Office of Emergency Management on preparedness, response and recovery is required for an efficient response. Conducting training and exercises and building community partnerships in advance of disasters also play a critical role in the outcome of an event,”
The order will also help ensure that everyone gets the critical information they need to stay safe during an emergency. The AlertSeattle Operating Board, an internal coordination group co-led by OEM and the Mayor’s Office, will implement clear standards across alerting departments for who sends alerts, when to send, what to say, and who to send them to. OEM will also establish regular AlertSeattle training to ensure that staff are ready to use the system, and public tests to ensure community knows what to expect.
Anyone who lives, works, or visits Seattle can sign up for emergency alerts or learn more at seattle.gov/alert.
Community Preparedness
The City of Seattle is strengthening its disaster preparedness efforts, with a focus on ensuring every community, regardless of language or risk level, has the training and resources needed to respond to and recover from emergencies. This commitment includes OEM working with other departments to:
- Integrate emergency preparedness education with Seattle Public Schools with the Department of Education and Early Learning.
- Develop neighborhood-specific preparedness plans with the Department of Neighborhoods and Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
- Launch a targeted tsunami awareness outreach campaign with signage for waterfront residents and businesses with the Department of Transportation.
In the face of unpredictable federal disaster funding and operational support, the need for strong coordination with regional and state partners is greater than ever. OEM will continue to work with the King County of Emergency Management, Washington State Emergency Management, the University of Washington, and other partners to support emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery across the Puget Sound region.
What People Are Saying
Deputy Chief Yvonne Underwood, Seattle Police Department
“The Seattle Police Department’s approach to crisis communications has evolved significantly, driven by a desire to do better for the community we serve. When a crisis hits, clear, rapid, and transparent communication directly shapes how our city responds and stays safe. True public safety is never a solo effort, it relies on a seamless partnership between the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Seattle Fire Department, and the Seattle Police Department. Together, our agencies are aligning our efforts to ensure our public messaging is coordinated, precise, and immediate. As part of this commitment, SPD is working hand-in-hand with OEM to fully train designated personnel on the AlertSeattle system. By utilizing this platform alongside our fire and emergency management partners, we can deliver real-time, critical information directly to the people in our neighborhoods when seconds count most. We are proud to be part of this vital citywide effort, and we remain dedicated to strengthening these partnerships to keep Seattle informed, prepared, and safe.”
Chief Amy Barden, Seattle CARE Department
“I strongly support the Mayor’s commitment to stronger coordination of the City’s public safety and emergency management system, anchored in a commitment to clear and accessible communication to all of Seattle’s diverse neighborhoods. The CARE responder team has grown in their capacity and availability to provide humanitarian relief and support during times of crisis, and Seattle 911 plays a crucial role in organizing the system of first response. The comprehensive interoperability between departments and contingency planning before FIFA should be the perennial standard, and this Executive Order will advance that expectation.”
Peter Haughney, External Relations, Seattle Emergency Hubs
“The Seattle Emergency Hubs enthusiastically supports this Executive Order to enhance the ability of the community of Seattle to respond to emergencies. The commitment to ensure that communities are prepared and connected with resources in the face of a major disaster aligns directly with our mission and primary goal. Seattle Emergency Hubs is a community volunteer organization, however our partnerships with other organizations throughout Seattle, including the City of Seattle, only enhances the work which we can all do together. We welcome this announcement, and we look forward to supporting the effort to continuously improve preparedness.”