Emergency Management
Emergencies are unplanned events that cause harm to individuals, property, and the environment. Public safety agencies in Bellingham (fire, police, medics, and public works) are staffed and equipped to respond rapidly and effectively to emergencies, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Disasters impact larger numbers of people over larger areas, with greater severity and with impacts that last longer than conventional emergencies. In a disaster, traditional 9-1-1 service and first responders such as fire, police, medics, and utility personnel will be working at full capacity and might need to prioritize their response objectives. The Bellingham Fire Department Office of Emergency Management works closely with the public and with neighboring jurisdictions to prepare for, respond to, and minimize the impacts of disaster in our community.
CEMP
The Bellingham Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management updated the City’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) in 2025. Washington Administrative Code requires each local emergency management organization to maintain a comprehensive emergency management plan. The purpose of a CEMP is to help coordinate functions within the broader emergency management system to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of an emergency or disaster. Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans utilize all-hazards planning foundations and concepts and help jurisdictions address local vulnerabilities through the identification of assets, resources, organizational structures, and responsibilities. In Washington State, CEMPS are generally updated on a give-year cycle, with the planning components based on guidelines and recommendations from State and Federal planning resources. The next CEMP update is scheduled for completion in 2030.
The 2026 CEMP is available for download.
