Role of the Emergency Management Chair

The chair’s role centers on coordinating WABO’s emergency management priorities, including helping member jurisdictions develop and maintain emergency response plans, promoting disaster response training and exercises, and serving as a liaison between WABO members and emergency-response partners such as government agencies, local authorities, nonprofits, and regional stakeholders. The committee’s broader mission is to support comprehensive emergency management planning so jurisdictions can respond effectively to disasters and accelerate recovery while protecting life and property. 

A major part of the role is supporting the WAsafe Coalition, which was formed through WABO Emergency Management efforts to train, enroll, and help dispatch volunteer building safety evaluators after disasters. The chair helps promote WAsafe training, recruitment, and coordination with building officials, emergency managers, and partner organizations. 

The chair also helps position WABO as an active participant in statewide disaster mitigation and recovery planning by maintaining relationships with emergency management partners and providing information or assistance to regional stakeholders when questions arise about building department roles in emergency response.