Yelm council signs updated comprehensive emergency management plan after state scores plan at 90%

The Yelm City Council on Feb. 11 authorized the mayor to sign the City of Yelm’s updated Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan after staff told the council the state review returned a 90% score, a marked improvement from a 72% score on the 2019 plan.

Erica Cat, who presented the item to the council, said the improved grade reflected changes the city made to meet state and federal plan requirements. “The 90% is an improvement of the things that we needed to do differently in the '19 plan, and then also how we compare to the state requirements and federal requirements for that plan,” Cat said.

Council discussion focused on resource constraints for some of the newly emphasized capabilities, including resource management and language access. Councilmember Hesse asked whether the city had plans to obtain interpreters for residents with limited English proficiency; the council was told that interpreter services are acquired through Thurston County and that, if the city lacks the resources because of its size, the plan must document how those needs will be met through outside assistance and planning.

The council then moved and passed a motion authorizing the mayor to sign the plan. The transcript records the motion being made by Councilmember Haas and the motion carried; no roll-call vote tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: The approved plan will be submitted to the state as the city’s current comprehensive emergency management plan; staff said the document moves the city toward full compliance with state and federal requirements and establishes procedures for obtaining external resources when local capacity is limited.