Emergency Management

Emergency Planning Resources

Visit the state of Washington Emergency Resources website for information on a variety of natural disasters and homeland security threats. Here are a few key resources for general preparation.

• ​Washington State Emergency Management Division
• Disaster Preparedness for Veterinarians, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Natural Disasters and Severe Weather, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Emergency Preparedness Flyers

• Flooding — AGR1-2609-027
• Drought and Extreme Heat — AGR1-2609-028
• Wildfire and Smoke — AGR1-2609-029
• Severe Weather — AGR1-2609-030
• Tribal Agricultural Producers — AGR1-2906-031
• Intentional Contamination and Bioterrorism — AGR1-2609-032
• Animal Disease — AGR1-2609-033
• Invasive Species and Plant Threats — AGR1-2609-034
• Earthquake and Volcanic Activity — AGR1-2609-036
• Other Emergencies and Disruptions — AGR1-2609-035

Agricultural Emergency Field Guides

• Agricultural Emergency Field Guide for Counties and Local Jurisdictions — AGR1-2609-037
• Agricultural Field Guide for Washington State Officials — AGR1-2609-038
• Agricultural Emergency Field Guide for Agricultural Producers — AGR1-2609-039

Emergency Planning

• Emergency Farm Plan for Agricultural Producers — AGR1-2609-040

Community Preparedness

All emergencies begin locally.  While help may be on the way, ensure you have taken precautions to safeguard yourself, your family, and your agricultural enterprise.  Make an emergency plan, prepare a response kit, and consider action that will aid you in all phases of the emergency management cycle (Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation)

• Resiliency Resources for Agriculture, AGR Publication 309-986
• All-Hazards Preparedness for Rural Communities, The Center for Food Security and Public Health
• Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals, The Humane Society of the United States
• Pet and Animal Emergency Planning, Ready.gov
• WSDA Pet Food Donation Guide, WSDA
• Saving the Whole Family, American Veterinary Medical Association
• Severe Thunderstorms and Your Pets, The Center for Food Security and Public Health
• Special Considerations for Small Animals, Birds, and Reptiles, ASPCA
• Winter Storms and Your Pet, The Center for Food Security and Public Health

County Planning

WSDA understands that emergencies and disasters start locally. This is why we work with and encourage our local jurisdictions to reach out to us for assistance.

• Foreign Animal Disease Response Guide for Local Jurisdictions

The PETS Act amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets andservice animals following a major disaster. For additional resources on the PETS Act, and what it means for jurisdiction, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association's page and their frequently asked questions. 

Trainings and Exercise

The WSDA is dedicated to assisting our state in preparing for animal and agriculture natural disasters. It has beenthrough much collaboration and dedication to outreach that we reach out to our county and regional partners toexercise and train with local, state, and federal partners. Below are examples of past exercises we have conducted with these entities. For additional exercise materials and after action reviews, please contact us. We are dedicated to assisting others in preparing their communities for emergencies and disasters in their own neighborhoods.

Foreign Animal Disease Tabletop Exercises:

• WA Region 1: Foot and Mouth Disease 
• WA Region 2: Olympic Billy Goat Down Tabletop Exercise 
• WA Region 6: Flu the Coop