Washington Task Force 1 deploying to Hawaii for second hurricane response

Washington Task Force 1 (WA-TF1) is deploying to Hawaii in support of Hurricane Olivia. Saturday morning, 35 members of WA-TF1 will depart from Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

WA-TF1 is a specially trained and equipped Urban Search and Rescue Task Fo...

Washington Task Force 1 deployed to Hawaii for disaster response

Washington Task Force 1 (WA-TF1) is deploying to Hawaii in support of Hurricane Lane. Later today, 35 members of WA-TF1 will depart from SeaTac, Wash. 

WA-TF1 is a specially trained and equipped Urban Search and Rescue Task Force consisting of 26 ...

Countywide burn ban in Pierce County begins Thursday, July 12

Due to dry weather, both now and in forecasts, Pierce County’s Fire Marshal, in partnership with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association, has declared a countywide burn ban effective Thursday, July 12 at 8 a.m., until further notice.The burn ban applie...

Pierce County communication leaders presenting at international expo

Pierce County Emergency Management and the Combined Communications Network (CCN) will be presenting How an Innovative Joint-Partnership Led to the Second Largest 700 TDMA System in the US on Tuesday, March 6, at the International Wireless Communication Ex...

Urban Search & Rescue team to be available for state and local deployment

Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier and The Adjutant General Bret Daugherty will sign an interagency agreement between Pierce County and Washington State Emergency Management at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb.13.The agreement will enable Washington State Task...

Be prepared for extreme heat this weekend

Temperatures are expected to be well above normal this weekend, reaching the upper 80s and low 90s. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday. Normal activities like exercise, hiking, biking, sports, and w...

Heat advisory notice and options

Due to the high temperatures expected this weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of the Puget Sound. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 80s to lower 90s Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 18-20. ...Read on...

Dry weather prompts county-wide burn ban

Pierce County Fire Marshal Warner Webb has announced a county-wide outdoor burn ban, effective 8 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 18, until further notice. Dry weather and forecasts calling for continued dry heat prompted the limited ban, issued jointly with the Pier...Read on...

Emergency Operations Center open

In response to flooding on multiple rivers, isolated landslides, and road closures in Pierce County, the Pierce County Emergency Operations Center opened today at a Level 2 at 9 a.m.

Officials are working with jurisdictions and partners across Pierce...Read on...

Glacial outburst flood and debris flow occurs at Mount Rainier National Park

From Mount Rainier National Park News:

A glacial outburst flood and debris flow occurred at Tahoma Creek in Mount Rainier National Park on Thursday, August 13, 2015 beginning at approximately 9:40 am. The glacial outburst flood originated from the Sout...Read on...

Stay safe and legal this 4th of July

The Pierce County Fire Marshal and Department of Emergency Management wants to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. The best way to safely enjoy the 4th is to watch a public fireworks display conducted by professionals. However, if you decide to ...Read on...

Excessive heat advisory issued

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for hot weather for parts of the Puget Sound area this weekend. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 80s to mid 90s on Friday through Sunday.

The Pierce County Department of E...Read on...

Urban Search and Rescue dogs to face final test in Puyallup

Canine heroes-in-waiting from around the nation will converge this weekend on a Puyallup gravel pit for their final trial. For those that pass the test, they'll receive coveted certification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Urban Search and ...Read on...

Learn how to be “WinterWise” at Oct. 25 event at McLendon Hardware in Puyallup

Pierce County is gearing up to respond to winter weather, and community members are encouraged to do the same.

Residents can learn about Pierce County’s response efforts and how they can prepare for winter weather at the WinterWise Kickoff Event from 1...Read on...

Heat advisory prompts county-wide outdoor burn ban

The Pierce County Fire Marshal has declared an immediate county-wide burn ban. Weather forecasts calling for continued dry heat prompted the limited ban, which was issued jointly with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Department of Natura...Read on...

Pierce County wins national awards for District Court Live Chat and the FirstToSee emergency system

Pierce County leads the nation when it comes to using technology to better serve the Courts and protect the public in a disaster. That’s why the County has received three national awards for District Court’s Live Chat and the FirstToSee emergency system.

...Read on...

Pierce County welcomes task force home from record deployment to Oso

A Pierce County-based Urban Search and Rescue team has completed a record deployment to the massive SR 530 landslide in Snohomish County.

The first 80-member rotation of Washington Task Force 1 (WATF-1) deployed on March 24 and returned April 4. The se...Read on...

Floodwater protection measures coming for residents of Midland

Pierce County’s Flood Control Zone District – a special-purpose district represented by all seven members of the Pierce County Council – has announced that an unincorporated portion of the county will be the next to receive funding to help mitigate flood ...Read on...

Executive McCarthy directs staff to further analyze landslide risks

The following is a statement by County Executive Pat McCarthy regarding landslide risks in Pierce County:

In the wake of the Oso slide, I convened a meeting of county experts in such areas as land-use planning, emergency management, roads, rivers and i...Read on...

Jody Woodcock headed to D.C. for 1-year FEMA fellowship

Emergency Management Deputy Director Jody Woodcock is headed to Washington, D.C. for a year as a Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) Distinguished Alumni Fellow.

Woodcock will join retired New York City detective Edwin Welch in a yearlong a...Read on...

Pierce County wins national awards for voter project and emergency mobile app

Last year, Pierce County completed a redistricting project affecting nearly every local voter in just five weeks. The county also started using the latest mobile technology to track damage to roads, bridges, and buildings during floods, fires and other di...Read on...

Responders from 21 emergency response agencies to participate in water rescue exercises

On Thursday, May 16, 21 fire and police agencies will be conducting training exercises involving water rescues in the Puget Sound at Sunnyside Beach Park in Steilacoom.

The goal of the exercise is to evaluate both individual agency capabilities and t...Read on...

Emergency Management wins top award for school safety program

Pierce County Emergency Management’s school emergency preparedness program was just awarded the Exemplary National School Safety Program Award for innovative training in local schools. The ‘Pierce County All Hazards Emergency Preparedness Training Program...Read on...

Executive McCarthy selects Lowell Porter to lead Emergency Management

Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy announced Monday, April 15, she has selected Lowell Porter to lead the Department of Emergency Management, saying his 30-plus years of experience in public safety will help ensure the region remains prepared for anythi...Read on...

Agencies to hold counter-terrorism exercise at Port of Tacoma March 22

A number of local, state and federal agencies will participate in a simulated improvised explosive device (IED) exercise at the Port of Tacoma on Friday. There will be two scenarios along the Blair Waterway where IEDs will be discovered and disposed of.
...Read on...

Pierce County burn ban lifted

Monday Oct 15 2012 1:17 PM

In light of the recent rains and the forecast for continued precipitation, the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau lifted the countywide burn ban as of noon on Monday, Oct. 15.

The lifting of the fire safety burn ban doe...Read on...

Emergency Operations Center Open House, Oct. 13

Pierce County Department of Emergency Management is hosting its 2012 Open House/Winter Weather Preparedness Fair on Saturday, Oct. 13. The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature indoor presentations and activities (including a children's acti...Read on...

Pierce County wins national, international award

Wednesday Sep 26 2012 1:53 PM

Pierce County Emergency Management and Information Technology won both a national and international awards competition for its new Damage Assessment Mobile Application. The International Association of Emergency Managers (...Read on...

Liberty Ridge Elementary students win $500 for disaster preparedness

Monday Jun 25 2012 4:53 PM

Shyleen Richardson and Alyssa Currier, students at Liberty Ridge Elementary in Sumner, claimed a $500 prize for their school's disaster preparedness efforts. Hundreds of students throughout the Puget Sound competed in a draw...Read on...

Pierce County to practice for the Big One

Pierce County Emergency Management and its partners will participate in a multi-county earthquake exercise from June 5-6.

More than 22 Pierce County cities, towns, departments and organizations will exercise their emergency response plans to a "p...Read on...

Heat advisory: Options for staying cool

Wednesday Aug 15 2012 3:22 PM

Due to the high temperatures expected this week, the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for Thursday and Friday, Aug. 16-17. Residents in Pierce County can seek relief from the heat by visiting loc...Read on...

UPDATED: Tips, laws and other info for a safe July 4th celebration

Wednesday Jun 27 2012 10:36 AM

Editor's note: updates to delete reference to a City Blast show in Puyallup and Orting fireworks show

In 2011, the Pierce County Fire Marshal's Office reported that 24 fires and 27 injuries in Pierce County were caused...Read on...

Warner Webb selected as Pierce County fire marshal

Tuesday Apr 10 2012 2:42 PM

Warner Webb will assume the lead role in the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau on April 16, where he currently serves as a fire inspector.

He came to Pierce County from the Whatcom County Fire Marshal's Office, where ...Read on...

President Obama approves disaster declaration for winter storm response

Tuesday Mar 06 2012 12:13 PM

Gov. Chris Gregoire thanked President Obama for his timely approval of a disaster declaration for public infrastructure damages and emergency response costs in 11 Washington counties suffered during January's severe winter ...Read on...