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Orting emergency manager outlines NIMS training, hazard plans and evacuation limits in study-session briefing
Summary
The city's emergency manager described a COOP update, Pierce County hazard mitigation work, NIMS training plans, and acknowledged evacuation limitations due to single-road access and potential gridlock.
The new Orting emergency management coordinator presented a detailed update to the council on Feb. 19 about disaster-preparedness planning, training and coordination with regional partners. The coordinator described updates to the city’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), participation in the East Pierce Interlocal Coalition (EPIC) and a county five-year hazard mitigation update.
The coordinator said the COOP review addresses essential functions in the first 48 hours after an event and that Orting’s contributions have been integrated into the EPIC regional document. The city is preparing training based on those plans and will run National Incident Management System (NIMS) training modules quarterly so employees have baseline incident-command knowledge.
Council members repeatedly asked about evacuation capacity, given Orting’s limited road access and lahar risk. Councilmember Sprowl raised concerns about gridlock — citing incidents in Hawaii and Los Angeles — and asked if county, state and federal partners are aware of the risk and if there are “plan B” options. The emergency manager said EPIC and county partners have discussed evacuation constraints and have modified the rapid-action plan for first responders, including staged officer positions outside of town to keep traffic moving.
The coordinator stressed that the preferred method for evacuation may be on foot in many scenarios because vehicles will likely be gridlocked. Staff are working on longer-term funding strategies to study other evacuation routes, including potential bridge or footbridge options; those would require design and grant planning.
The emergency manager also described a year-long “Two Weeks Ready” preparedness campaign aligned with state/FEMA guidance and urged employees and residents to prepare personal emergency kits and household plans. Staff said the EPIC group recently received an award for organizing a large lahar evacuation exercise and that coordination with USGS and other agencies is ongoing.
The council did not adopt new policy at the Feb. 19 study session; members asked staff to continue training and to pursue funding and feasibility studies for additional evacuation options.
