Washington HB 1728: Disaster Resiliency Program
Washington passed HB 1728 on April 21, 2023, creating a new state-wide resiliency program to be established and administered by the state’s Emergency Management Division. The main objectives of the resiliency program are to ensure “ongoing coordination of state and local disaster resilience and response activities,” develop “strategies for addressing the impacts of all hazards,” and participate and collaborate in interagency efforts to advance statewide climate resilience activities, including the development of the state’s updated integrated climate change response strategy.
The statute recommends coordinating state and local resilience activities by (1) coordinating funding to maximize all public and private investments and (2) enhancing collaboration among agencies. It recommends addressing hazard impacts by (1) developing disaster resilience initiatives across state agencies and local governments, (2) researching policies and economic tools, and (3) recommending investments to “mitigate disaster risks.”
Finally, the Emergency Management Division of the state military department must provide the Governor of Washington with an overall progress report of “disaster resilience efforts for the hazards and issues where there is not another lead agency for coordinating resilience activities.” Any agency that does have responsibility for its resilience activities is encouraged to update the governor on their respective efforts.
These efforts within the Disaster Resiliency Program intend to address the disproportionate impact of disasters on communities of color and responses to disasters such as border closures. The resilience program is designed for “the benefit of all Washingtonians” while also looking to conserve expenditures.
Publication Date: April 21, 2023
Related Organizations:
- State of Washington
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- Laws
- Legislation
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