City of Seattle Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

NEWS ADVISORY
SUBJECT:   Mayor Greg Nickels Proposes Emergency Preparedness Bureau In SPD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    3/19/2002  3:51:00 PM	FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of the Mayor  (206) 684-4000

Mayor Greg Nickels Proposes Emergency Preparedness Bureau In SPD

SEATTLE--Mayor Greg Nickels, with the support of City Councilmembers Jan Drago and Jim Compton, today sent legislation to the City Council that would create a new Emergency Preparedness Bureau in the Seattle Police Department.

An element of his 100-Day Agenda, the creation of the Bureau would unify critical functions necessary to planning for and managing civic emergencies ranging from earthquakes to terrorist attacks.

"All of us learned from September 11 the need for improved emergency preparedness," said Mayor Nickels. "Seattle must be ready, whether the potential threat is earthquake, terrorism or civil disturbance. This new bureau is one of several improvements we’re making. I’m making this change now, rather than wait for next year’s budget process to begin. I want citizens to know we are doing what’s necessary to be ready."

Councilmember Jan Drago said, "During last fall's budget process, this Council placed its highest priority on emergency preparedness, so I am pleased that the Executive is moving forward with implementation."

The new bureau, which will be funded with existing resources, will draw employees from the existing Emergency Management, Criminal Intelligence and Field Support Divisions; an Assistant Chief will manage it. The bureau will draw from other SPD resources (i.e., Training, SWAT, Bomb Squad, Information Technology, Patrol) as needed.

The bureau's principal functions, brought together in a single group for the first time, are planning (intelligence gathering, information analysis and forecasting); operations (planning and carrying out strategies for preventing and deterring disasters and managing resources in the event of a disaster); and investigative (incident follow-up).

Its specific duties are:

To direct the Emergency Operations Center when it is activated;

To prepare readiness plans and infrastructure surveys;

To take actions that protect the electric power grid and water supply;

To oversee police readiness exercises and other training, jointly with other law enforcement and emergency preparedness agencies as appropriate;

To coordinate efforts with emergency management and law enforcement agencies at all levels; and

To direct recovery efforts in the aftermath of a disaster.

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Office of the Mayor

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