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Emergency Management
What does Washington County Emergency Management (WCEM) do?
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 911.
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.
Outdoor Warning Sirens
Washington County has many outdoor warning sirens. For more information, please see our "Warning Siren Information" sheet. For siren locations, please see the attached map 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.
Mitigation Plan
Every five years, Washington County updates the All Hazard Mitigation Plan, which 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.
Severe Weather Awareness Week
Severe weather season is here! This year, Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 4-8 2022. During this week, Washington County and the National Weather Service will be promoting severe weather safety and emergency preparedness information. Each day of the week highlights a different weather related topic. The most important events during Severe Weather Awareness Week are the two annual statewide tornado drills. In Minnesota, the 2022 statewide tornado drills are scheduled for Thursday, April 7 at 1:45pm and 6:45pm. Additional information on these topics can be found on HSEM's site!
Winter Weather Awareness Week
This year, Winter Weather Awareness Week is November 14-18, 2022 . During this week, Washington County and the National Weather Service will be promoting winter weather safety and emergency preparedness information. Each day of the week highlights a different weather related topic. Additional information on these topics can be found on HSEM's site!
Hourly Forecast Details: https://www.weather.gov/forecastpoints NWS Twin Cities Winter Website: https://www.weather.gov/mpx/winter/
- You can always find more information by following us on the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page at: www.Facebook.com/wcsomn.
There are currently no ongoing Emergency Management events.
If you are looking for COVID-19 updates, you can find current information for Washington County here.
The current St. Croix River and Mississippi River level information can be found on the National Weather Services website.
Emergency Management partners with all aspects of public safety from the federal, state, and local levels to ensure the most comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety. Roles and responsibilities include planning for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating identified threats and hazards.