Welcome to the City of Covington's Emergency Management Program. This local page contains emergency management information, resource lists, and education programs for businesses and residents. It also contains information about the organization of the Emergency Preparedness Division in the Public Works & Emergency Management Department for businesses, residents and emergency management professionals. The Covington Municipal Code establishes the Emergency Management Department and the Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) within the purview of the City Manager. The Emergency Management Director has been designated by the City Manager and is designated to coordinate emergency preparedness and management activities within the City of Covington.

The Emergency Management Division of the City of Covington is charged with carrying out the following program:

1. Coordinate the maintenance and exercising of the City's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, which provides the framework for organizational activities during disaster operations.
2. Develop and maintain a Hazard Mitigation Plan of the City's All Hazard Mitigation Element, which provides the framework for organizational activities to eliminate or address know hazard areas.
3. Provide a community education and preparedness program for the residential, school, and business communities to assist them in developing self-sufficiency.
4. Provide assistance to City departments in training activities for the development of contract-responder capabilities. Foster an atmosphere of interagency cooperation within the City of Covington and with community support groups, adjacent jurisdictions as well as county, state, and federal agencies.

Emergency Preparedness Division

The Emergency Preparedness Division is comprised of:

• Emergency Management Committee
• City Management Team
• Emergency Management Director
• Emergency Management Coordinator
• Emergency Coordination Center (ECC)

The Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan provides the framework for these organizational activities during disaster operations and provides guidance to the Emergency Management Organization for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery operations. This includes disaster and emergency responsibilities, training, and community education activities.

Emergency Management Committee (EMC)

The EMC oversees and provides policy recommendation to the City Council during emergency and recovery periods and provides direction for the development and maintenance of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The ECC shall oversee the activities of, and provide direction to the City Management Team during major emergencies and disasters.

The EMC meets at least nine times per year, and consists of City staff, volunteers, and outside special interest groups.

Incident Command System (ICS)

The City Management Team provides staff support, direction and expertise in development of the Plan and all supporting documents. The Team is made up of key personnel designated by each City department director having key roles in emergency preparedness, planning and response activities. Members of the Team will normally staff the Emergency Coordination Center, and coordinate the activities of their respective divisions or area of responsibility during major emergencies and disasters.

Emergency Management Director

The EMD provides direction and coordination for the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan development, ongoing maintenance and related activities within the City, provides for coordination with outside agencies and organizations involved in emergency planning, manages the Emergency Coordination Center during activation and interacts with outside agencies to coordinate emergency support activities, acts as permanent chair of the Emergency Management Committee and recommends emergency planning related policy to the City Management Team for approval.

Emergency Management Coordinator

The Emergency Management Coordinator provides assistance to the Emergency Management Director and acts as Director in the director's absence. Also, acts as the permanent secretary of the Emergency Management Committee. The Emergency Management Coordinator also edits and formats all emergency management related forms, handouts, brochures and plans.

Emergency Coordination Center (ECC)

The ECC serves as a centralized location for emergency operations. Overall coordination will normally be conducted through the ECC in order to support the overall community response to the disaster and to best coordinate efforts with county, state and federal agencies. The Emergency Management Director, or at the request of the City Manager, or Emergency Management Coordinator, or any City department director activates the ECC. Designated staff reports to the ECC to coordinate response efforts and support field operations. All or part of the Emergency Management organization and/or the ECC may be activated during a disaster. The level of activation will be determined by the nature and extent of the disaster. The ECC can be operational 24 hours a day and is equipped with alternate power supplies for use during a general system failure.

Winter Storm Planning, Preparation and Recovery

The Covington area is vulnerable to many types of disasters but the most common are the Winter Storm, Windstorm, Prolonged Hot Spells and Power Outages. We have developed disaster specific flyers for each plus guides for Using a Generator During a Power Outage, Preparing your Household for Emergencies and a Checklist of Disaster Emergency Supplies. The material in this area is derived from the Washington State Department of Health and the Military Department – Emergency Management Divisions Disaster Preparedness Handbook.

Remember the slogan "3 Days 3 Ways – Are You Ready? " Have a Plan, Build a Kit, and Get Involved. The following information will start you on the road to having a plan and the checklist will aid you in beginning to build a kit. To get involved log on to King County Emergency Management Division or KING, KIRO or KOMO web sites for more information.

The Kent Fire Department conducts "Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) " training in the spring and fall. This training will only take a few hours a week for several weeks but you will become better qualified to take care of your family, place of work and community through your involvement in this very rewarding training experience.

Your home, car or RV could be in the path of hazards on your property. Before the windstorm hits you may consider removing some of the potential hazards.

Should this not be an option, we recommend staying near the center of the home, on the first floor and away from windows.

Disaster Guidelines:
Checklist of Disaster Emergency Supplies:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Emergency_Supplies_Checklist.pdf

Hot Weather Precautions:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Hot_Weather_Precautions.pdf

Power Outages:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Power_Outages.pdf

Preparing Your Household for Emergencies:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Preparing_Your_Household.pdf

Using a Generator During Power Outages:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Using_A_Generator.pdf

Windstorms:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Windstorms.pdf

Winter Storms:
http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/documents/Winter_Storms.pdf

Terrorism Preparedness & Disaster Planning

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is promoting "Don't be afraid, Be ready." This is the City of Covington's philosophy. The City of Covington is a new city that relies upon contract services for fire, police, street and stormwater maintenance. Thus all we can do is be prepared to respond to and recover from the consequences of a disaster that could impact our community through the aid of other public agencies. This includes earthquakes, severe weather, power outages, terrorism, etc. Earthquakes are the largest and most complex disaster to prepare for. If you are prepared for an earthquake, you are likely prepared for any other significant event.

To help you and your business and family prepare, here are a few actions that you can take before any disaster occurs:

Store emergency drinking water; stock supplies as if you couldn't get to the grocery store for several days; prepare for power outages by having flashlights and batteries, as well as a battery operated radio; keep at least a 3-day supply of medications on hand; develop a family communications plan, including an out-of-area phone contact for your family to call if local telephone lines are overwhelmed. Consult our Emergency Supplies and Equipment Vendor List for sources of emergency items.

The following links to the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will provide you with additional information on how you and your business and family can prepare for terrorism. If something were to happen in the City of Covington, be sure to turn on your AM/FM radio or television and listen for directions and/or information relating to any specific actions that you should take. By being prepared, you empower you and your family to survive and recover from any disaster.

American Red Cross
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Covington Public Works & Emergency Management Department at 253.638.1110, Extension 2238.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

The CERT Program is a neighborhood-oriented approach to emergency preparedness. We believe that a cooperative effort between Covington city government, Kent Fire District #37 and citizens is the best way to prepare for disaster. This program organizes CERT trained citizens into teams such as Damage Assessment, First Aid, and Search and Rescue teams.

Remember, an organized neighborhood response can save lives and reduce the severity of injuries and loss. Please call 253.856.4440 to find out how you can get CERT training.

Earthquake Safety Program for Schools

This program, designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is offered twice a year (usually in April and in December) in Bellevue. The program is designed for teachers, administrators, PTSA members, and other school staff at public or private schools. Participants completing the course will be able to:

• explain the importance of a school earthquake plan to others;
• lead individuals in their schools through the stages of developing an earthquake plan;
• convince others of the need to take as many steps to mitigate the hazards from an earthquake as possible.

Participants will learn about hazard mitigation, drills, medical triage, light search and rescue, communications, sheltering and long-term recovery.

Please call 253.856.4440 to find out when the next Earthquake Safety Program for Schools will be offered.

Helpful links:
3 Days 3 Ways - http://www.govlink.org/3days3ways/
Washington State Emergency Management Division - http://emd.wa.gov/
King County ECC – http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/
KOMO – http://www.komotv.com/
KING – http://www.king5.com/
KIRO – http://www.kirotv.com/