Relationships in Action: PIO Response to SR530 Slide Sheri Badger Pierce County Department of Emergency Management
Pierce County, Washington Tacoma, WA (30 miles south of Seattle) Home of Mount Rainier volcano, earthquake risks, and yearly flooding 800,000 people in Pierce County Four rivers Extremely wet weather
November/December 2009 Lakewood Police Officer Shooting Sgt. Mark Renninger Officer Ronald Owens Officer Tina Griswold Officer Greg Richards
EOC/JIC activations
Regional exercises
2013 Wilcox Farm Silo Collapse (IMT)
2014 SR 530 Slide (Oso)
Where is Oso, Washington?
SR 530 Slide Overview March 22, 2014 at 10:37 a.m. Several miles outside of the town of Oso, in Snohomish County (about 100 miles north of Tacoma) Blocked the north fork of the Stillaguamish River, cutting off access to Darrington Initial evacuation orders were issued due to flooding potential
Before and after
SR 530 Slide
(One square mile)
Detour Route
Damage 42 people killed, one still missing 37 structures destroyed; 6 damaged Two-hour detour for town of Darrington Isolation of Darrington and residents SR 530 blocked/closed Snohomish County EOC – operational 40 days Preliminary damage assessment - $65 million
Response Up to 700 responders per day during the height of the search – including volunteers Presidential Declaration on April 2 Washington Task Force 1, CA-TF 7 National Guard troops Three shelters opened 117 different agencies staffed the EOC 240 different response agencies participated
Pierce County involvement EOC activated to level 2 to support WA-TF 1 deployed as a state asset – two 80- person rotations Team from Medical Examiner’s Office
Pierce County Eight PIOs Dive team from Sheriff’s Department DEM staff for EOC
Incident Command Post with JIC Arlington (west of slide)
Pool media site visits
In the field
First week anniversary of mudslide
Pierce County deploys to help with Oso Mudslide Pierce County Television (April 4, 2014)
JIC Field Office (east of slide) Darrington Fire Department
Communication Challenges JIC not in EOC East and west side of slide Resource requesting Experience of PIOs
Who do you represent?
Who should go on camera?
How do you tell the story?
Pierce County Crisis Communications Group Communicators/PIOs Quarterly meetings Networking Share contact information
Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program Eight-county footprint Coordination Plan recommendations
Creation of statewide PIO network
WEPIN Background Formed in 2013 Over 200 members Workshops Board of Directors Monthly meetings
Organizational Objectives Membership/PIO database Joint Information System Communication Workshops
Organizational Objectives Training Core competencies Special projects Resource library Mentorship
Recommendations Find opportunities to network – Trainings, meetings, PRSA, start your own Look at how to be a resource Develop JIS protocols Encourage ICS training Designate PIOs and train Typing or tiering of PIOs and their skill levels
Contact information: Sheri Badger Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (desk)