The state's role in disaster recovery depends on the complexity of an incident and the capacity of a local jurisdiction or tribe to manage recovery efforts. In general, the state functions as a coordinating entity for state and federal resources and facilitates relationships between jurisdictions, agencies and private organizations.
The Military Department (Department) leads and coordinates the state's preparedness, response, and recovery efforts to minimize the impacts of disasters and emergencies, including by coordinating a number of grants available to state and local jurisdictions. The Adjutant General is required to administer a state program for emergency assistance to individuals who are victims of a natural disaster. Natural disasters include events that demand immediate action to protect public health or to provide relief to affected communities, as well as events that reach such a degree of destructiveness as to warrant the governor proclaiming a state of emergency. The emergency assistance program may include grants, loans, gifts of services, equipment, supplies, or funds to individuals who need assistance and who meet certain eligibility standards. Funds from the Disaster Response Account in the state treasury may be used for support of state agency and local government disaster response and recovery efforts.
The Military Department (Department) is required to develop and implement an extreme weather response grant program for the purpose of assisting political subdivisions and federally recognized tribes with the costs of responding to community needs during periods of extremely hot or cold weather. The Department may adopt rules to administer the program. The Department may award grants to political subdivisions and federally recognized tribes for reimbursement of costs if the costs are incurred:
Costs associated with the following activities are eligible for reimbursement:
Funds from the Disaster Response Account may be used to award grants as part of the extreme weather response grant program.
For purposes of these requirements, "political subdivision" means any county, city, or town that has established a local organization for emergency management or any joint local organization for emergency management.
(In support) Periods of extreme weather are becoming more common. Local jurisdictions are often unprepared to meet community needs during extremely hot or cold weather, and rural and small communities often face a greater impact. It is also difficult for local communities to make funding decisions regarding unpredictable weather. Cities have to balance setting aside funding for emergencies and using those same funds for other community needs. This bill will help communities make funding decisions and offset the costs of providing life-saving services. Temporary housing solutions provided to individuals can lead to permanent housing solutions. It is important for individuals experiencing homelessness to be called out in emergency management policies. Emergency shelters should have additional outreach capabilities in order to be successful, but adding capabilities increases costs. The bill should be fully funded.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) Local communities face obstacles in setting up warming and cooling centers, including that it is difficult to find suitable locations that are secure and easily accessible. It is also difficult to balance increasing capacity with considerations relating to COVID-19.
The Military Department may provide funding for costs of responding to community needs during periods of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke in addition to periods of extremely hot or cold weather.
(In support) Local governments such as cities and counties are seeing multiple incidents of extreme weather each year, including heat waves and cold snaps. Extreme weather will continue to be a factor due to climate change. The most vulnerable residents already have little access to shelter. During the pandemic, many vulnerable people have had no options other than a government-operated heating or cooling shelter. Individuals have died due to not having access to a heating or cooling shelter.
Standing up a heating or cooling shelter can be very costly for cities and other local governments due to the unpredictability of when it will be needed. One city estimates it cost an average of $40,000 per month to stand up their emergency shelter. Many smaller jurisdictions want to open these shelters, but do not have sufficient resources to do so. Local governments like fire districts, which play a coordinating role in emergency response on behalf of small or unincorporated communities, often do not have dedicated funds for heating or cooling shelters and must tap into their general funds. There is a financial component to when emergency response agencies determine when to open a heating or cooling shelter. By providing state resources, the proposed program would help local governments meet the need for shelter. Local governments also support allowing funds to be used to respond to incidents where there is poor air quality due to wildfire smoke.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) Washington is not immune to extreme weather events. Ensuring there are warming and cooling shelters in addition to other types of shelter is critical for preserving life and safety. Local emergency managers face many obstacles in operating these shelters. This program would assist local governments in their response to declared disasters when they have demonstrated a lack of local resources.