Emergency Management 

Washington County Emergency Management (WCEM) is responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness throughout the county. In addition to the writing and coordination of emergency operation plans, WCEM provides assistance to local jurisdictions and county agencies before, during, and after disasters strike. WCEM works in collaboration with local, state, and federal officials, and partners with neighboring jurisdictions, to facilitate better preparedness, response, and recovery from natural and human-made disasters.

Emergency Management Core Functions:

  • The process of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from emergencies and disasters.
  • The focal point for overall coordination for all disasters.
  • Planning, training, conducting drills, testing equipment and coordinating activities with communities.
  • Effective Emergency Management relies on thorough integration of emergency plans at all levels of government and non-government involvement.

Remember for all emergencies, call 9-1-1.

  1. Planning and Preparedness
  2. Severe Weather
  3. Current Events
  4. Roles and Responsibilities

CodeRED

Washington County uses CodeRED as an emergency notification platform to deliver geo-targeted, time-sensitive information via email, SMS, voice, mobile app push notifications, IPAWS and more depending on the severity of the situation. Sign Up for CodeRED Alerts.

Outdoor Warning Sirens

Washington County has many outdoor warning sirens. For more information, please see our "Warning Siren Information (PDF)" sheet. For siren locations, please see the siren map (PDF) which was updated in 2020.

Flood Insurance

Most insurance companies will not cover flooding if the water is coming from outside the home. Flood insurance is available through most homeowners and renters insurance agencies and the National Flood Insurance Program. Get more  about flood insurance.

Mitigation Plan

Every five years, Washington County updates the All Hazard Mitigation Plan (PDF). This plan identifies risks and vulnerabilities as well as opportunities to lessen or eliminate potential future risks (mitigation) in the communities.  By doing so, our neighborhoods and communities become more resilient.