05/27/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ISLAND COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN RISK ASSESSMENT
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT
In August 2025, a coalition of Island County cities, towns and special purpose districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for impacts of disasters.
Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the coalition was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area. The planning process was led by Island County Emergency Management with support from Bridgeview Consulting, LLC, the technical consultant.
During this process, citizens were asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of the region’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences, as well as identify initiatives which could help reduce the level of impact of those hazards. Public involvement was solicited via a multi-media campaign that included: press releases; public council/board presentations and meetings; web-based information; questionnaires, and safety fairs.
The process has now culminated with the completion of the Risk Assessment portion of the plan. Data from that process is now available for review and comment at the informational website established for this planning effort at:
https://www.islandcountywa.gov/170/Department-of-Emergency-Management
The public is highly encouraged to review the hazard profiles and maps illustrated on the website, and provide input on the risk assessment to Rachel Schwinden, Emergency Management Coordinator and Project Lead for Island County Emergency Management at [email protected], or to Bev O’Dea, Consultant, at [email protected].
Several of the planning team members are also conducting in-person sessions during existing council and commissioners’ meetings over the course of the next few weeks. This process is anticipated to result in a draft plan available for public review by June/July 2026.
For Media Inquires:
Justin E. Ross
Director, Island County Emergency Management
[email protected]
(360) 632-3547
