Emergency preparedness

Sumner/Bonney Lake Area Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Sumner School District, in conjunction with the city of Sumner, the city of Bonney Lake, and East Pierce Fire and Rescue, is developing a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Hazard Mitigation is defined as “those actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to people, property, the social infrastructure, or the environment from hazards and their effects.”

The plan has the following phases: a Risk Assessment, a Vulnerability Assessment, a Mitigation Strategy, a Plan Maintenance and Ongoing Public Involvement. The total geographical area of the involved jurisdictions is considered the planning area. Pierce County Department of Emergency Management will develop the plan and coordinate the planning efforts.

Currently, the plan is in the Risk Assessment Phase. The natural hazards being addressed include: flood, earthquake, severe storm, volcano, landslide, and wildland/urban interface fire (see draft map of the volcanic hazard within the entire planning area). The Planning Team will hold a meeting in March to discuss the risk assessment and future schedule.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/dem/EMDiv/MitSB.htm or contact Luke Meyers, Mitigation Planner at the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, at (253) 798-7843, lmeyer1@co.pierce.wa.us.