Island County Emergency Management

05/21/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ISLAND COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN RISK ASSESSMENT
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT

In August 2025, a coalition of Island County cities, towns and special purpose districts embarked on a planning process to prepare for impacts of disasters.

Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the coalition was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area. The planning process was led by Island County Emergency Management with support from Bridgeview Consulting, LLC, the technical consultant.

During this process, citizens were asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of the region’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences, as well as identify initiatives which could help reduce the level of impact of those hazards. Public involvement was solicited via a multi-media campaign that included: press releases; public council/board presentations and meetings; web-based information; questionnaires, and safety fairs.

The process has now culminated with the completion of the Risk Assessment portion of the plan. Data from that process is now available for review and comment at the informational website established for this planning effort at:
https://www.islandcountywa.gov/170/Department-of-Emergency-Management

The public is highly encouraged to review the hazard profiles and maps illustrated on the website, and provide input on the risk assessment to Rachel Schwinden, Emergency Management Coordinator and Project Lead for Island County Emergency Management at [email protected], or to Bev O’Dea, Consultant, at [email protected].

Several of the planning team members are also conducting in-person sessions during existing council and commissioners’ meetings over the course of the next few weeks. This process is anticipated to result in a draft plan available for public review by June/July 2026.

For Media Inquires:
Justin E. Ross
Director, Island County Emergency Management
[email protected]
(360) 632-3547

04/22/2026

***Mobile Pop-Up Event Notice***
The Small Business Administration will open temporary Mobile Pop-Up Events at the addresses listed below for residents, businesses, and private nonprofits impacted by 2025 Severe Winter Storms. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.
Services offered:
Direct access to SBA Customer Service Representatives and disaster loan information.
Assistance with disaster loan application.
For businesses: Learn how an SBA disaster loan can help pay for financial losses.
Residents, Businesses, and Private Nonprofits may still submit applications online at SBA.gov/disaster.

The deadline to return physical damage injury applications is April 27. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 24.
Applicants may call the SBA Customer Service Center with questions regarding their application at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected].
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Learn more and apply at sba.gov/disaster

Camano Center
606 Arrowhead Rd.
Camano, WA 98282
Open one day only
Wednesday, April 22,
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church
18341 State Route 525
Freeland, WA 98249
Open one day only
Thursday, April 23,
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Whidbey Presbyterian
Church
1148 SE Eighth Ave.
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Open one day only
Thursday, April 23,
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

04/19/2026

***Mobile Pop-Up Event Notice***
The Small Business Administration will open temporary Mobile Pop-Up Events at the addresses listed below for residents, businesses, and private nonprofits impacted by 2025 Severe Winter Storms. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

Services offered:
Direct access to SBA Customer Service Representatives and disaster loan information.
Assistance with disaster loan application.
For businesses: Learn how an SBA disaster loan can help pay for financial losses.

Residents, Businesses, and Private Nonprofits may still submit applications online at SBA.gov/disaster.
The deadline to return physical damage injury applications is April 27. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 24.
Applicants may call the SBA Customer Service Center with questions regarding their application at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected].
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Learn more and apply at sba.gov/disaster

Camano Center
606 Arrowhead Rd.
Camano, WA 98282
Open one day only
Wednesday, April 22,
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church
18341 State Route 525
Freeland, WA 98249
Open one day only
Thursday, April 23,
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Whidbey Presbyterian
Church
1148 SE Eighth Ave.
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Open one day only
Thursday, April 23,
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

04/14/2026

Island County CERT is hosting a CERT Refresher Course this weekend at the South Whidbey Fire and EMS in Bayview from 10am to 2pm. There will be a short classroom session followed by a Search and Rescue Exercise. You must have already completed the 20 hour CERT Basic Training Course to participate. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

04/06/2026

There's still time to sign up for the Saturday CERT course, April 18th, 25th, and May 2nd. Learn the skills you need to help yourself, your family & friends, and your community in a disaster. Everyone who attends will get to use a REAL fire extinguisher on a REAL fire! Sign up at the link below.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training This course is spread out over 3 Saturdays (April 18, April 25, and May 02, 2026). You must attend all 3 sessions to graduate. In a disaster, there will never be enough first responders to go around. CERT teaches volunteers from the community t...

04/01/2026

Be the Help Your Community Needs When Disaster Strikes...

When a disaster hits, we don't look to strangers - we look to each other. Whether it's a storm or a major earthquake, our community will need people who know how to help.

The American Red Cross is offering a free, 4-hour workshop to show you how to open and run a safe neighborhood shelter. Click the link below to register.

Location: Camano Island Annex, 121 121 E. Camano Dr, Camano, WA 98282
Date: May 9th, 2026
Time: 9am-1pm

https://forms.office.com/r/ubH2jMzUHU

03/30/2026

Re-posting to maintain awareness

🌨️ Washington Winter Storm Recovery Assistance
If you were affected by the Severe Winter Storms between December 5 and December 22, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to help you rebuild.
🌟 Why Apply? (SBA Disaster Loan Benefits)
Beyond providing recovery capital, these loans offer several flexible features to help your financial recovery:
* 0% Interest for One Year: Benefit from a 12-month repayment deferment with no accrued interest during that first year.
* No Upfront Costs: There is no cost to apply for an SBA disaster loan.
* No Prepayment Penalty: You can pay off your loan early without any additional fees.
* No Obligation: You are under no obligation to take the loan if your application is approved.
* Early Funding: Funds can often be made available prior to an insurance settlement.
* Fixed Rates: Interest rates are fixed for the entire term of the loan.
📍 Is Your County Covered?
Assistance is available for residents and businesses in the following Washington areas:
* Primary Counties: King, Lewis, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom.
* Contiguous Counties: Chelan, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Kitsap, Kittitas, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Yakima.
💰 Loan Types & Fixed Interest Rates
• Homeowners and Renters: as low as 2.875%
• Business of all sizes: as low as 4%
• Private Non-Profit Organizations: as low as 3.625%
* Loan Terms: Loans are available for terms up to 30 years.
🏠 What Can These Loans Cover?
* Homeowners/Renters: Up to $500,000 for real estate repairs and $100,000 to repair or replace personal property, including automobiles.
* Businesses: Up to $2,000,000 for the repair or replacement of real estate, inventories, machinery, and equipment.
* Economic Injury (EIDL): Up to $2,000,000 in working capital to help small businesses and most non-profits meet ordinary financial obligations affected by the disaster.
* Mitigation & Refinancing: Approved applicants may receive additional funds (up to 20% of physical damage) for improvements to protect against future damage, such as sump pumps or retaining walls. Refinancing of existing mortgages may also be possible under specific conditions.
⚠️ Important Deadlines
* Physical Damage Applications: April 27, 2026.
* Economic Injury (EIDL) Applications: November 24, 2026.
💻 How to Apply
Apply online via the MySBA Loan Portal for Disaster -20025:
👉 Apply for SBA Disaster Loan WA-20025
For further assistance, contact the SBA Customer Service Center:
* Email: [email protected]
* Phone: 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: Dial 7-1-1)

03/27/2026

Do you have strong opinions about hazards in Island County? We want to hear them. Please take our survey at the link below. This will help shape the Island County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan and Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
NOTE: Comments on this post are not included in the survey. You must actually go to the survey to be part of this process.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

03/27/2026