Emergency preparedness should be built in to all the states plans in case of any emergency. All
communities, cities, and towns are equipped with emergency disaster plan but with the hopes
of never deploying it and or using the nation guard. In recent years there has been a lot of
diseases including viruses that has put a dent in the world’s economy. The latest has been the
coronavirus (COVID-19) which hit the Unite States in a devastating way. Public health crisis is a
wide range of responsibility when dealing with any natural disasters, manmade disasters,
medical disasters, hazardous disasters (chemical).2 Its important to have a plan for these types
of emergencies and with the help of public health officials’ information can be given to
government on a local, state, and high officials regularly for safe keeping of citizens. It’s
important to develop and maintain emergencies which is crucial for the safeguarding of citizens
lives, properties, and other important assets. Emergency preparedness is to ensure that swift
and coordinated efforts in disasters without any chaos. Moreover, this fosters resiliency,
empowering individuals to make quick and decisive actions and to navigate through unforeseen
challenges for the overall community safety.
A. The City of Oak Harbor’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) was
adopted and approved by the City Council and is made in response to heightened
awareness, realities, and consequences to natural and technological hazards faced by
the city.1 It’s been reviewed and approved by the state of Washington Military
Department Emergency Division as requires1 The City of Oak Harbor Comprehensive
Emergency Management Plan addresses lawful requirements, is consistent with the
Washington State CEMP, and incorporates industry best practices and was pass and
signed in 2019 and reviewed again in 2024.3 The CEMP was developed as a joint effort
between the state and local county emergency management agencies and the military. It
is designed around multiple emergency scenarios such as snowstorms, Ice storms,
flooding, infectious outbreak, chemical/hazardous and military operations.3
B. The state of Washington has 39 counties, and they all fall under the CEMP with a unique
approach to Island county because the Navy military base is located there. Oak Harbor,
Washington falls within the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States and has
various geographical features and some of the most beautiful views known to man.
Some of these features includes the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway, Olympic National Park,
Seattle Space Needle, Mount Rainier Mountain, and the beautiful rivers surrounding
Mount Baker Mountain. The city’s population is made up of 23,639 citizens which is one
of the smaller cities in Seattle.4
C. The description of this plan is to include the Veteran’s Affairs Fourth Mission. The goal is
help improve and to expand the preparedness for a much quicker, accurate and
thorough response to a disaster which is not limited to war, to act of terrorism, national
emergency disaster, and natural disaster. This disaster plans are to make sure that all
steps are in place and are taken to ensure uninterrupted service to active-duty service
members on duty, veterans and civilians.5 To accomplished this, the inclusion in of local,
national, and the pacific northwest regional emergency management, public health and
the military/national guard will be activated.
D. Since the CEMP is adapted in all 39 counties, they’re policies and procedures in each
organization are developed in the local, state, and federal level that serve as partners for
the CEMP. When dealing with the local level, emergency responders, city councils,
county officials, medical facilities, and local branches of organizations like the Salvation
Army and American Red Cross are activated if the need of immediate help when needed.
At the state level, the Governor’s office, the Seattle Nation Guard, and the Oak Harbor,
Island County Health Department would be in communication in working together
response to any disaster and finally the federal level of government and organizations
such as FEMA, the Red Cross, state National Guard units and sometimes depending on
the situation, the US Military can deployed to help provide protection, mediate and
execute actions of set forth by the government.1
E. In the CEMP, There aren’t a lot of plans and procedures in places for an overall
assessment at the conclusion of any usage of an emergency situation. Individual
organizations would assess a step-by-step procedure that take throughout their portion
of the emergency plan, but no overall evaluation was stated that would be conducted by
the Oak Harbor Emergency Management Services and the involvement of the National
Guard and or Military since they are a part of the plan and use up a lot of resources in
the city.
F. On February 27, 2023, In the city of Oak Harbor, Washington, It was a very chaotic week
with school being canceled, Military operation limited to duty personal only, and lots of
power outages. It has been raining for the nineth consecutive day with heavy rain and
high winds come from the pacific ocean. Island county and surrounding counties are
under a flood warning from the North Fork Skagit River to the Mission Creek River. The
mayor of Oak Harbor and the governor can decide to evacuate the city due to power
outages and lower-level business and homes flooded out. Upon this order of movement
for the city of Oak Harbor, the governor can declare a state of emergency and issue an
evacuation order from the state’s office from the areas affected by heavy winds and rain.
This process can be dangerous, life threatening and chaotic so a quick, speedy, and well
thought out evacuation plan should be put together because of the levels of water rising
per sec.
As the governor would anticipate, those who decided to stay will be doing so at their
own risk. The rapid rise of water can destroy homes, schools, and all community
buildings in certain areas. As the rain starts to subside, the winds are calmer and the
flood water levels beginning decrease, Our emergency crews, the National Guard,
Military can all be deployed as order by the governor and head of military affairs to
assess the damage and repair, and for search and rescue purposes. Anyone that is
rescued from the search and rescue can be taken to the hospital and or taken to the
evacuation tents that’s being setup for shelter, clothing, food, and treatment of any
injure. If an individual injuries are severe and can’t be treated on the ground, they will
be flown out by a helicopter to the nearest hospital. To help with the search and
recovery efforts, Seattle legislator and council could pass an emergency order for aid to
help those affected in the city of oak harbor and the counties affect. The assistance of
different organizations such as FEMA, the Red Cross and the military would be available
to help the affected area as needed. FEMA has a vast array of resources at their disposal
for those effected in emergencies, such as funding, shelter, food, and medical
treatments. After the state of emergency has ended and everyone is returning to some
normality, individuals whose property were affect and lost can submit claims to their
respectful insurance companies for assistance.
References
1. City’s Emergency Plan | Oak Harbor, WA. https://www.oakharbor.gov/244/Oak-
Harbors-Emergency-Plan.
2. Leiyu Shi. Novick & Morrow’s Public Health Administration. Jones & Bartlett
Learning; 2020.
3. Oak Harbor Emergency Operations Plan.; 201-2024.
https://www.oakharbor.gov/DocumentCenter/View/228/Comprehensive-
Emergency-Management-Plan-2019-to-2024-PDF
4. Oak Harbor, Washington Population 2024. https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-
cities/oak-harbor-wa-population.
5. VA.gov | Veterans Affairs.
https://www.va.gov/VHAEMERGENCYMANAGEMENT/4thMission.asp.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
