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Poulsbo updates emergency operations plan, continuity plan and county multi‑hazard mitigation draft; city adds tertiary site MOU
Summary
Emergency management staff presented revised Emergency Operations Center manual, an updated Continuity of Operations Plan and the county’s draft Multi‑Hazard Mitigation Plan. The city added a no‑cost memorandum with Vibe CoWorks as a tertiary site and said staff will maintain and update the documents quarterly.
Poulsbo staff told the council on July 2 that the city has updated three key preparedness documents — an Emergency Operations Center manual (local EOP/EOC playbook), a continuity of operations plan (COOP) and the draft county Multi‑Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP) — and seeks council review before formal adoption.
What staff changed Dan Schoonmaker, the city’s emergency management coordinator, said the EOC manual now includes clearer job descriptions for likely city EOC roles, meeting outlines for incident meetings (participants, outcomes and action items) and a crisis communications annex that defines internal and external messaging roles. The COOP (first drafted in 2020) has been updated with current personnel, new city facilities (including the Public Works site and the North Kitsap Recovery Center) and a tertiary location arrangement. The county MHMP draft was circulated for local review; staff recommended the council review and adopt the county plan after city edits are incorporated.
Public‑private continuity option Schoonmaker told council he had secured an MOU with Vibe CoWorks that provides a tertiary facility option for city continuity operations; the MOU is no‑cost unless the city must use the space. He also said staff are coordinating with county emergency management (KCDEM) and regional partners on redundant communications and satellite options; the county’s finalized comprehensive emergency management plan remains under FEMA review.
Why it matters The EOC and COOP codify how the city will run command, communications and continuity in an event — earthquakes, floods or other large incidents. Councilmembers asked about communications redundancy, fiber and satellite backups (Starlink and KPUD/BPA fiber nodes were discussed) and the need to educate the public about evacuation expectations (some residents assume schools are automatic evacuation centers). Schoonmaker said staff will continue quarterly reviews and that updates will come back to council for formal adoption of the MHMP.
Next steps Staff proposed to return in about a month after council members have time to read the packet and ask detailed questions; Schoonmaker said he will keep the documents living and update them as personnel or facilities change.
Provenance: the emergency operations presentation and discussion appear in the workshop packet at approximately 100:02 into the recorded session and continue through the city’s procedural discussion and council questions.
