If you need assistance in obtaining the specific information you seek, please e-mail Grays Harbor County Emergency Management at: ghcdem@co.grays-harbor.wa.us or call (360)-249-3911 x 1575

Emergency Management Role in Grays Harbor County

The Division of Emergency Management (DEM) is responsible for developing and maintaining a Countywide infrastructure for emergency/disaster preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery.

This is accomplished by means of a cooperative, multi-jurisdictional organization which includes the Cities of Aberdeen, Cosmopolis, Elma, Hoquiam, McCleary, Montesano, Oakville, Ocean Shores, Westport, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, the Quinault Indian Nation, all 15 County Fire Districts and every Grays Harbor County Department.

Public Assistance Forms
How-to Guide to Completing Public
Assistance Forms

Request for Public Assistance (FEMA Form 90-49) (PDF)

EOC

DEM is responsible for maintaining the EOC in a constant state of readiness. During a countywide disaster, the EOC becomes the hub of information gathering and dissemination, strategic decision making, resource allocation and incident coordination. Representatives from law enforcement, fire services and public health, environmental health, EMS, as well as other organizations from throughout the county work together to coordinate the response.

The Division of Emergency Management actively prepares for and participates in the following functions:

• Disaster Planning
• Disaster/Emergency Response Planning
• Disaster/Emergency Recovery Planning
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Emergency Preparedness
• Exercises for Disaster & Emergency Response
• Hazardous Materials Response Planning
• Public Education & Outreach
• Responder Training
• StormReady
• TsunamiReady

StormReady
The StormReady program helps community leaders prepare their communities for severe weather. Severe weather includes thunderstorms, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, high heat, high winds, and extreme cold weather. Although no community is storm proof, StormReady communities are better prepared to save lives through planning, education, and awareness.

TsunamiReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen their local operations by being sufficiently prepared to save lives in the event of a Tsunami through better planning, education and awareness. Although no community is tsunami proof, being TsunamiReady can help minimize loss to our community.

Grays Harbor County continues to hold both designations of StormReady and TsunamiReady.