During their Feb. 11 regular meeting, the three-member Grays Harbor County Board of Commissioners consisting of Vickie Raines, Georgia Miller and Rick Hole voted unanimously to approve an interlocal agreement for emergency management services for the city of Westport.

“We are very excited to be supporting the city of Westport with emergency management services,” said Hannah Cleverly, Deputy Director of Emergency Management for Grays Harbor County, via email. “Westport is progressive in emergency management and emergency preparedness, and we are really looking forward to working with them on the projects that are currently underway and future mitigation and preparedness efforts.”

These interlocal agreements “provide an economical mechanism to provide for the common defense and protect the public peace, health and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the signatory jurisdictions against the existing and increasing possibility of the occurrence of major emergencies or disasters, either man-made or from natural causes.”

Through each of these agreements, the County has committed to preparedness and prevention support including training and community outreach, mitigation, response and recovery support. In turn, each municipality will appoint a director for their emergency management organization, participate and coordinate with the County during response activities and provide a representative or liaison as required during emergencies.

This agreement brings the total number to seven out of nine possible cities in Grays Harbor County — Westport, Cosmopolis, Elma, McLeary, Montesano, Oakville and Ocean Shores.

So far, only the cities of Hoquiam and Aberdeen have declined to participate.

During a special County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 30, 2024, Cleverly indicated that Aberdeen’s and Hoquiam’s emergency management functions are currently handled by their respective fire departments.